A California man was sentenced to 6 ½ years in federal prison for setting fire to a synagogue in San Diego.

Manuel Tiscareno Renteria, 27, of Oceanside, also known as Manuel Alejandro Tiscareno, set fire to Carmel Valley’s Congregation Beth Am in October 2003 by pouring gasoline on the front of the synagogue and lighting it ablaze. 

The fire, which spread to the Congregation’s lobby, burning walls and cracking windows, caused over $100,000 in damage. 

Renteria, whom witnesses saw leaving the scene, was arrested at his apartment a few hours later.  Authorities found gasoline on his clothes and gas cans in his car.  Renteria was convicted in May by a federal jury of maliciously causing damage to the synagogue.  

During his October 12, 2004, sentencing in U.S. District Court, Judge Larry Burns indicated that Renteria recently wrote threatening letters to synagogue leaders and refused to apologize for his acts.