Suspect in mosque arson appears in court

Gary Nathaniel Moore, 37, is shown after arraignment in the 184th State District Court at Harris County Criminal Courthouse, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. He is charged with arson at a mosque on Christmas Day. less Gary Nathaniel Moore, 37, is shown after arraignment in the 184th State District Court at Harris County Criminal Courthouse, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. He is charged with arson at a mosque on ... more Photo: Melissa Phillip Photo: Melissa Phillip Image 1 of / 21 Caption Close Suspect in mosque arson appears in court 1 / 21 Back to Gallery

A Houston man charged with setting fire to a Houston mosque on Christmas Day will remain in jail without bail until he turns over his passport, a judge ruled Thursday.

In an orange jail uniform, handcuffed and wearing thick black glasses, 37-year-old Gary Nathaniel Moore appeared in state District Judge Jan Krocker's court on a charge of felony arson.

Prosecutors said he was a member of the storefront mosque and had attended prayers there shortly before the blaze erupted.

Assistant Harris County District Attorney Justin Wood said surveillance video shows Moore was the last to leave the mosque on South Wilcrest and emerged from the building three minutes before flames appear.

The mid-afternoon fire was tamped out by Houston firefighters responding to the two-alarm blaze.

Wood said a bottle of lighter fluid was found near one of five ignition points in the mosque.

Investigators searching Moore's home found another bottle that seemed to match the one at the crime scene.

The judge appointed defense attorney Ed Chernoff, who said only that Moore told him he is innocent.

"He didn't do it," Chernoff said as he walked away from a throng of reporters asking questions. "That's what he says."

In court, Chernoff said Moore was born in Maryland and has lived in Houston for five years with his wife and six kids.

Prosecutors said Moore had been arrested in other states on the East Coast and was put on five years probation after being convicted of marriage fraud in federal court in 2006.

The judge said she would consider granting Moore a bond if he surrenders his passport. He is scheduled to return to court Monday.