After hearing an emotional statement from the pastor of the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church, Timothy Grevenstuk was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison.

Grevenstuk, 18, was convicted last month, during a jury trial in Kosciusko Circuit Court, of setting the fire that destroyed the church in July 1997. He was sentenced to the minimum time for arson resulting in bodily injury, a Class A felony.

Grevenstuk also was convicted of burglary to the church and theft in the same incident. His sentences for those two crimes will be served concurrently with the arson sentence.

"Why would anyone want to burn a church down?" Pastor Jeff Hoffard asked at the sentencing hearing. Hoffard said he and his church members have been asking themselves that question for the past year and just don't understand.

"It's been a tough year," he said. The historic church and contents were destroyed by the fire July 22, 1997. The congregation has been meeting in the nearby Leesburg Elementary School until they rebuild.

Hoffard said that the church members "serve the Lord. God allowed this to happen for reasons we don't understand yet."

In a heartfelt speech, Hoffard looked at Grevenstuk and said "Tim, I want you to know I'm not bitter. I don't hate you ... I feel overwhelmed by sadness. I wish it wouldn't have happened for you, your family and the church."

Hoffard expressed his thanks to law enforcement and other people involved in Grevenstuk's trial.

"God promises two things, justice and accountability to those who have wronged Him, and I think you're finding that out," Hoffard said. "But He promises something else - real peace to those who want it and come to Him."

Hoffard said he and his congregation are praying for Grevenstuk and his family.

When Grevenstuk was asked if he would like to speak, he said, "I'm sorry for the crimes I did commit that I pleaded guilty to, and I'm sorry for the church, but I did not do that." As he said, "It's unfair," Grevenstuk began to cry and sat down in his seat at the defense table.

Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe asked Judge Rex Reed to give Grevenstuk a harsh sentence because of the "atrocious crime" he committed. Grevenstuk's attorney, Arvil Howe, argued for the lesser sentence of 20 years.

Reed told Grevenstuk: "I would like to encourage you, perhaps, to take to heart what Rev. Hoffard said to the court. I think he expressed a message equally applicable to you and members of the church."

Reed also pointed out to Grevenstuk that one of the greatest proponents of the Christian faith, the Apostle Paul, was first a persecutor of the Christian church. "That church and community are not willing to give up on you. I think you have a lot of support there," Reed said.

Reed said that one aggravating factor in the crime was the fact that Grevenstuk was on probation at the time he set the fire. But, Reed added that Grevenstuk's age was a mitigating factor in the sentence. He was only 17.

"I'm concerned you may not have known any better," Reed said about Grevenstuk's actions that night.

Reed decided on a sentence of 20 years without probation for the arson, crediting Grevenstuk for 289 days he spent in jail. He also sentenced him to 1-1/2 years for the theft charge, and four years for the burglary count, both the recommended presumptive sentences.

Grevenstuk and his attorney agreed that they plan to appeal his conviction. [[In-content Ad]]