20-yr. old robs church, then arson

By In the news
In: Uncategorized
Friday October 3, 2025

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon Foundation,

A 20-year-old man faces charges after an early August fire at the Zion Mennonite Church at 6124 S. Whiskey Hill Drive in Hubbard, Ore., according to KOIN. Malachi Samuel Kercher of Hubbard faces charges in Clackamas County of first-degree arson, second-degree burglary, and criminal mischief stemming from the Aug. 2nd fire inside the church. He is being held on $200,000 bail.

 

A Salem church was hit with arson just last year by a criminal with a prior record of arson.

Police have arrested a 48-year-old suspect in the early morning arson fire that damaged St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Salem in late August.  Billy James Sweeten remains in Marion County Jail on charges of first-degree arson in the blaze that began in a nearby dumpster shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 31 and spread to the roof of the church at  721 Chemeketa St. NE, according to KGW.com. About 70 firefighters responded to the blaze.  He has a previous record of arson.

 

A Portland church was set afire in 2023

 

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