Woman sentenced to prison for setting fire to Montgomery church [Video]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Xiaoqin Yan, the woman accused of setting fire to the historic First Baptist Church Montgomery in 2021, has been sentenced to prison.

Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced Monday that Yan, a Chinese national, was sentenced on March 22 by a federal judge to 102 months in federal prison for arson and illegal firearm possession.

According to court records and evidence presented at Yan’s June 2023 trial, on September 30, 2021, Yan entered a church in downtown Montgomery and ignited multiple fires inside the building. The Montgomery Fire Department was able to extinguish the blaze, but only after the church sustained significant damage. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Yan had multiple encounters with church staff prior to September 30 and had exhibited odd behavior.

When arresting Yan on October 4, 2021, agents found items identical to those seen on church surveillance videos, as well as clothing matching the type worn by Yan when setting the fires. Officers also …