Man Pleads Guilty to Burning Byron United Methodist Church in Macon

MACON, Ga. — A South Carolina man has pleaded guilty in federal court to setting fire to a church in Middle Georgia, a crime that could send him to prison for up to 20 years.

Luke Andrew Westefeld, 34, of North Augusta, SC, pleaded guilty April 6 to one count of malicious use of fire before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. He faces a minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, along with a possible $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not yet been set. There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on August 20, 2024, at Byron United Methodist Church on West Heritage Boulevard.

Earlier that evening, Westefeld approached church members in the parking lot after choir practice and asked for water. The individuals declined, later telling authorities they were concerned for their safety.

Investigators said Westefeld later broke into the church and became upset upon seeing unlit candlesticks on the altar. He told authorities he believed they should remain lit overnight and interpreted a Bible passage he saw as a sign to burn the church.

Westefeld admitted to lighting candlesticks and setting fire to items inside the sanctuary, including the American and Methodist flags. He then entered a nearby office, where he took cash and checks and became further angered after seeing food in the pantry, believing it should have been given to the poor.

Authorities said Westefeld then set fire to the church office. He later attempted to obtain gasoline from a church vehicle to accelerate the fire but was unsuccessful, instead igniting a cloth in the vehicle’s gas cap area.

The fire caused significant damage to the church.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Georgia State Fire Marshal’s Office, the Byron Police Department, the Centerville Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Federal prosecutors are handling the case, and sentencing will be determined at a later date.