A former Marine from Indiana has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting he started a fire inside an Ohio mosque because he wanted revenge for the killings of American soldiers overseas.

A federal judge in Toledo also ordered Randy Linn, of St. Joe, Ind., to pay $1.4 million for the damage to the mosque.

The 52-year-old Linn apologized in court Tuesday and said he was drinking heavily before he drove to Ohio and set fire to The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo last fall.

The fire caused extensive smoke and water damage throughout the building.

Linn pleaded guilty to hate crime and other charges late last year but then tried to take back his plea. A judge turned down that request just weeks ago.

From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/national/~3/_z6zeivN8G8/

A federal judge isn’t allowing a former Marine to withdraw his guilty plea to starting a fire at a mosque in Ohio.

The judge in Toledo rejected the request by Randy Linn, of St. Joe, Ind. on Thursday.

Linn says he was in an emotional state when he pleaded guilty to hate crime charges. His attorney asked the judge to throw out the plea so the 52-year-old Linn could undergo a competency exam.

Prosecutors opposed the request, saying Linn made it clear he knew what he was doing.

Linn said he set the fire at The Islamic Center of Greater Toledo last fall because he wanted revenge for the killings of American soldiers overseas.

A deal between prosecutors and Linn calls for him to receive a 20-year sentence.

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