A 21-year-old Plainfield man has been ordered to serve 10 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for vandalizing a local church and lying to federal investigators. Steven James Perkinson received the sentence from U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II after pleading guilty to intentional damage to religious property and making a false statement to an agency of the United States.
The charges stem from an incident on November 18, 2024, when Perkinson spray-painted the sign in front of Maple Grove Baptist Church. Court documents state he painted a pitchfork and the numbers “666” on the display and used an “X” to cover the sign’s cross symbol.
When initially questioned by the FBI, Perkinson denied any involvement. However, after agents executed a search warrant on his cell phone days later, he admitted to targeting the church because of its Christian affiliation, citing his involvement in various Satanic groups as his motivation.
A forensic review of his phone showed that Perkinson had extensively researched local religious sites, searching for “Maple Grove Baptist Church Plainfield,” “Churches near me,” and “Plainfield Bible Church photos.” Investigators also found search terms linked to occult organizations, including “Noctulian Blood Covenant” and “Nexion 435.”
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While Perkinson had no prior criminal record, federal agents had been aware of him since 2023 due to a social media post where he wrote, “Now I just sit alone in my room for hours a day… Schools are meant for shooting up not learning…”
Further evidence from his phone revealed messages about accessing firearms, encouragement of mass violence, and searches for the “address of largest Jewish church in America.” Agents also found photos of Perkinson with deceased animals and evidence that he had previously set fire to a dumpster.
“Targeting any house of worship because of its faith is an attack on the fundamental freedoms that define our nation. This defendant’s conduct, paired with his disturbing online activity, posed a real threat to those liberties,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence makes clear that hate‑fueled vandalism and threats of violence will be met with swift and serious federal consequences.”
The investigation was led by the FBI. “Places of worship are meant to be spaces of peace, reflection, and community – not targets of intimidation or hate,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe practicing their faith without fear. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate hate-based crimes and work alongside our partners to ensure those who target religious communities are identified and held accountable.”
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