North Providence man sentenced to 6 years in prison for setting fires around predominantly black church

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A man who set multiple fires outside a North Providence church has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison.

Kevin Colantonio, 36, received a 78-month sentence along with three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges including malicious damage by means of fire, obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs and two counts of assault on a federal officer.

Federal investigators said Colantonio used gasoline and a lighter to ignite five fires around the exterior of Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries just after midnight on February 11, 2024. Surveillance footage captured him walking around the church pouring gasoline before setting the flames. The church was forced to close for nearly a week due to the damage.

Authorities arrested Colantonio days after the incident. During a search of his home, investigators found a notebook containing racist writings, including violent threats against non-white individuals and references to burning churches.

While detained at the Wyatt Detention Facility, Colantonio also assaulted two federal correctional officers, according to prosecutors.

Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries is located in a residential neighborhood of North Providence and has served the local community for decades.