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An Indiana man who pleaded guilty yesterday to setting an Ohio mosque on fire told a judge he was motivated by media accounts 鈥� specifically those on Fox News 鈥� suggesting Muslims were threatening Americans and聽were in control of parts of the federal government.

Details made public at the plea hearing also revealed that the arsonist, Randolph Linn, was carrying a pistol when he entered the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo on September 30, only minutes after several worshippers had left, and had more guns in his car.

Linn, a 52-year-old truck driver from St. Joe, Ind., expressed no remorse when he admitted trying to burn down the third largest mosque in the United States. Under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors and Linn鈥檚 defense attorney will recommend a prison term of 20 years when he is sentenced early next year.

Accounts of the federal court hearing were provided to Hatewatch by Mahjabeen Islam, president of the mosque, who was present along with 10 other members of the mosque.

When U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary asked Linn about his motivation, he responded that he was聽spurred on by newspaper, radio and聽Fox News accounts suggesting Muslims were killing聽鈥渦s鈥� and聽were in control of the Department of Homeland Security and the White House, Islam recounted.

鈥淲hen asked if he knew any Muslims or about the Islamic faith, he said he did not, he knew only what he got from Fox News and he did know that聽鈥榯hey don't believe in Jesus Christ as the savior,鈥欌�� Islam said.

鈥淩andy Linn's statements clearly incriminate the media,鈥� Islam said. 鈥淲e call on print, Internet and broadcast media to educate the public about various cultures and religions and promote the strength of diversity, rather than whipping up hatred that leads to such destruction. Fox News,聽in particular, needs to reset its course and policies very quickly.鈥�

The fire caused an estimated $1 million worth of damages.

鈥淲e are grateful that no one was injured or killed when Randy Linn came to the Islamic Center,鈥� Islam said. That kind of tragedy, she said, 鈥渨as a major possibility鈥� because Linn entered the mosque carrying a gun in his hand and聽had three other firearms聽in his car.

鈥淭he prospect of Randy Linn finding anyone in the Islamic Center is spine-chilling, and we appeal for attention and action on the easy availability of these deadly weapons,鈥� Islam said.

Court documents say Linn left his Indiana home on Sept. 30 in a red four-door Chevrolet Sonic, stopping at a gas station near Perrysburg, Ohio, to fill three gas cans he had in the vehicle, before driving on to the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo. The mosque in Perrysburg is the third largest in the United States, a 70,000-square-foot landmark, visible for miles, with 3,000 members who celebrated the center鈥檚 32^nd anniversary in October.

Linn made numerous efforts to enter the Islamic Center before finally gaining entry, walking through several rooms with a pistol in his left hand before exiting and then returning with a gas can, the court documents disclosed. He entered the mosque鈥檚 prayer room on the second floor and poured gasoline on the prayer rug used by worshippers during prayer services. Linn then set fire to the rug and fled. His actions were caught on surveillance cameras and he was arrested a few days later after the photos received media coverage.

Islam said attending the hearing and seeing Linn left her 鈥渘umb and overcome.鈥�

鈥淎t no point during the hearing did Randy Linn reveal any remorse for what he had done,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e pled guilty to all three counts but took no responsibility.鈥�

Linn pleaded to intentionally defacing, damaging, and destroying religious real property because of the religious character of that property; using fire to commit a felony; and using and carrying a firearm to commit a crime of violence.

鈥淗is guilty plea, acceptance of a binding plea agreement with no chance for appeal, and a prison sentence of 20 years sends out a clear message to future criminals that our society will not accept hate and violence,鈥� she said.

Islam鈥檚 comments were echoed by U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach of the 聽Northern District of Ohio, who said, 鈥淩eligious freedom is at the core of our country, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute such hate crimes whenever and wherever the evidence warrants. This was a true joint effort to seek justice for these victims.鈥�

Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said the freedom to worship in the manner of one鈥檚 choosing is one of our most fundamental rights as Americans.

鈥淭he Department of Justice and the Civil Rights Division will continue to aggressively prosecute hate-based attacks on houses of worship,鈥� Perez said in a statement. 鈥淚 commend the cooperative efforts of local and federal law enforcement officials to ensure justice in this case.鈥�