Arsonist gets six years, four months for church fires

A man who started a fire at a church three times because he disagreed with its teaching against masturbation was sentenced Friday to six years and four months in state prison.

Huntington Beach resident Izad Chavoshan, 32, pleaded guilty Aug. 9 to three felony counts of arson, one felony count of attempted arson and a hate crime sentencing enhancement, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Chavoshan had a previous criminal threats conviction from 1998.

On three separate occasions between Oct. 15 and 19, 2009, Chavoshan moved trash cans to the front of Orange County Church of Christ in Irvine and set their material on fire, prosecutors said.

After the incident was reported to Irvine police, Chavoshan was caught trying to once again set the church on fire by inserting a lit piece of paper through its closed doors.

He was arrested at the scene, prosecutors said.

— Mona Shadia