A man with a reported history of aggression toward Muslims has received a nearly seven-year prison term for setting fires on successive days that damaged two Twin Cities mosques.
Jackie Rahm Little, 39, of Edina was sentenced on Feb. 19 in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis after pleading guilty to one count each of arson and damage to religious property, the latter considered a federal hate crime.
Little set fire on April 23, 2023, to Masjid Omar Islamic Center in Minneapolis, and the next day he ignited a much more serious blaze at the Masjid Al-Rahma Mosque in Bloomington.
The sentence from Judge Ann Montgomery of slightly more than 5¾ years fell roughly in the middle of the federal guidelines range of 5¼ to 6½ years. Little’s time in prison will be followed by three years on supervised release.
Ahead of sentencing, prosecutors argued in writing for the terms Little ultimately received, pointing out that “when these sacred spaces are attacked, the damage goes far beyond the physical destruction or degradation of a building. Attacks create deep and lasting community trauma, erode the refuge of peace and sanctuary, and impact the religious community’s sense of safety and stability.”
Little is also charged in Hennepin County District Court with arson stemming from the Minneapolis fire. He has a hearing in that case on March 25.
Neither the federal nor the state criminal complaint raise a suspected motive. But the charges and documents for Little’s civil commitments to hospitals from mental health challenges describe him as often being a threat to others.
At the time of the fires, Little suffered from a bipolar disorder that “grossly” impaired his judgment, behavior and ability to recognize reality, according to a 2021 commitment order.
