Michael E. Bivins, a former freelance journalist initially accused in state court of setting fire to a mosque and vandalizing two synagogues, now faces federal charges for the alleged crimes.
Bivins, 35, is scheduled to enter a plea to the new charges on Feb. 22 before U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, according to court records.
A criminal information filed last week in federal court accuses Bivins of three counts of damaging religious property, alleging he broke a window on April 30 at Congregation Shir Tikvah in Northeast Portland; used spray paint to scrawl hateful graffiti on the outside of Congregation Beth Israel in Northwest Portland and broke a window on the synagogue’s campus on May 1; and used an accelerant on May 3 to set fire to the Muslim Community Center of Portland that caused damage to the exterior of the building while worshippers were inside.
A fourth count accuses him of willfully intimidating a Black business owner in Portland by breaking a window of the business, Everybody Eats PDX, in the 130 block of Northwest 10th Avenue sometime between April 30 and May 1.
All of the charges are misdemeanors, unless prosecutors can prove aggravating factors, such as use of a dangerous weapon, injuries or an attempt to kill.
The new charges and upcoming pleas follow settlement talks on the state charges before Multnomah County Circuit Judge Michael A. Greenlick.
Ismail Allison, a spokesperson for The Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the group welcomes the federal prosecution of Bivins.
“Attacks on houses of worship cannot be tolerated and must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Allison said in a statement. “We welcome the federal charges in these disturbing cases and urge law enforcement authorities nationwide to crack down on crimes targeting houses of worship. We stand in solidarity with the Muslim and Jewish communities in Portland against anti-Muslim bigotry, antisemitism and all forms of hate.”
Bivins still faces an 11-count indictment in Multnomah County Circuit Court. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree arson, five counts of committing a second-degree bias crime and five counts of first-degree criminal mischief.
Bivins remains in custody at Inverness Jail in Northeast Portland.
Shortly after his May arrest, he was sent to the Oregon State Hospital for an evaluation but declared fit to proceed in his own defense as of July, according to state court records. Bivins has no prior criminal history. He told county officials that he has no relationship with either his mother or ex-wife, has no job and if released from custody would be homeless, according to court records.
His defense lawyer on the pending state charges, Christopher Howard, and his assistant federal public defender, Michael Benson, each declined comment Tuesday.
-- Maxine Bernstein
Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212
Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
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