Houston man pleads guilty in mosque fire on Christmas Day

Gary Nathaniel Moore, 37, is shown being escorted from the 184th State District Court at Harris County Criminal Courthouse, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 after an arraignment. He is charged with arson at a mosque on Christmas Day. ( Melissa Phillip/ Houston Chronicle ) less Gary Nathaniel Moore, 37, is shown being escorted from the 184th State District Court at Harris County Criminal Courthouse, 1201 Franklin, Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015 after an arraignment. He is charged with arson ... more Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Photo: Melissa Phillip, Staff Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Houston man pleads guilty in mosque fire on Christmas Day 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

A Houston man was sentenced Friday to four years in prison after pleading guilty to starting a fire at a mosque on Christmas Day.

Gary Nathaniel Moore, 38 of Houston, was arrested last year in connection with a fire at 2 p.m. on Dec. 25 at a storefront mosque in the 1200 block of Wilcrest.

Moore told investigators at the scene that he had attended the mosque for five years, coming five times per day to pray seven days per week, according to court records.

Moore pleaded guilty to arson and using a fire as a deadly weapon, an enhancement which means he will have to serve at least half of the prison time before being eligible for parole.

Moore's attorney, who would not give his name, declined to answer questions after the brief hearing in state District Judge Jan Krocker's court.

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