Massachusetts man gets 14 years for anti-Obama church arson

(CBS/AP) SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - A white Massachusetts man convicted of burning down a predominately black church in anger over President Barack Obama's election has been sentenced to almost 14 years in prison.

Michael Jacques, 26, was sentenced Thursday to 166 months in prison after being convicted in April of various charges in connection with the fire, including conspiracy against civil rights.

A federal judge also ordered Jacques to pay nearly $1.6 million in restitution to the church and its insurance company.

Prosecutors say Jacques and two friends burned down the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in Springfield the night of Obama's 2008 election in an act of racism. Jacques claimed he was at his parent's house that night.

The two other men, Thomas Gleason Jr. and Benjamin Haskell, have pleaded guilty in connection with the fire.

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