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Pickerington man federally charged for 2021 church fire


FILE - Department of Justice seal. (WSYX){p}{/p}
FILE - Department of Justice seal. (WSYX)

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A man facing charges in Fairfield County for a church fire has now been charged federally.

Benjamin Ruckel of Pickerington was charged in November 2021 after deputies said they found him in a nearby ditch after a fire at Mount Zion Church located at 4810 Blacklick Eastern Rd. near Baltimore, Ohio.

A Fairfield County grand jury indicted Ruckel later on six counts including arson, ethnic intimidation, and desecration. Ruckel has since pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation, and Ruckel was found competent to stand trial. Ruckel's attorney filed a motion for another evaluation, which the judge granted. The second evaluation was scheduled for March 8.

In a federal search warrant executed last year, deputies reported that Ruckel said he always wanted to burn a church.

The warrant stated that he told deputies he selected the church because it was remote and he was less likely to hurt someone.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio charged Ruckel with damage to a religious property.

An arraignment date for the federal charge has not been set. The docket indicates a plea deal was given to Ruckel.


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