Man gets 39 years for firebombing Jewish temple in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A 21-year-old Washington man is sentenced to 39 years in prison for firebombing a Jewish temple in Oklahoma City.<br/><br/>Sean Gillespie of Spokane was convicted in April on three

Wednesday, August 31st 2005, 5:30 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A 21-year-old Washington man is sentenced to 39 years in prison for firebombing a Jewish temple in Oklahoma City.

Sean Gillespie of Spokane was convicted in April on three charges of throwing a Molotov cocktail at Temple B'Nai Israel in April 2004.

Prosecutors said Gillespie faced at least 30 years for the crime, but the sentence was enhanced because he sent a hate letter to the temple after the firebombing while he was in prison. The letter was intercepted by authorities.

Gillespie once belonged to the white supremacist group and flashed a Nazi-style stiff-armed salute after his sentencing Tuesday afternoon in federal court.