TX Complaint
TX Complaint
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
I, the complainant in this case, state that the following is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
On or about the date(s) of October 31, 2021 in the county of Travis in the
Western District of Texas , the defendant(s) violated:
Complainant’s signature
Date: 11/12/2021
Judge’s signature
City and state: Austin, Texas MARK LANE, United States Magistrate Judge
Printed name and title
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I, Thomas P. Joy, Jr., being duly sworn, depose and state as follows:
Investigation (FBI) since July 1999. I am currently assigned to the Public Corruption/Civil Rights
White Collar squad located in the Austin Resident Agency of the San Antonio Field Office. As
such, I investigate federal criminal violations related to complex financial crimes, public
corruption and civil rights matters including color of law violations and hate crimes. Through
formal and on the job training, I am experienced in crimes involving violations of civil rights. As
a Federal Agent, I am authorized to investigate violations of laws of the United States and to
execute warrants issued under the authority of the United States. I have participated in the
execution of numerous arrest warrants in cases involving crimes against civil rights and other
FRANKLIN BARRETT SECHRIEST, year of birth 2003, for violation of Title 18, United States
Code, Section 844(i), which makes it a crime for anyone to maliciously damage or destroy by
AFFIDAVIT Page 1
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means of fire any building used in interstate commerce or used in any activity affecting interstate
law enforcement officers, including FBI special agents and Austin (Texas) Fire Department (AFD)
investigators. Because this affidavit is being submitted for the limited purpose of establishing
probable cause for the issuance of the Complaint, it does not contain every fact known to me or
Facts
BARRETT SECHRIEST set an intentional fire at religious real property of the Congregation Beth
Israel synagogue located at 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin, Texas, in the Western District of
5. AFD Arson investigators examined the scene and conducted witness interviews.
AFD Arson investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set and thus an act of arson.
AFD Arson Investigators also observed burn patterns consistent with the use of a liquid accelerant
and ruled out all ignition sources except an open flame introduced by human means.
around 9:00 pm CDT on October 31, 2021. Video overlooking the Synagogue’s parking lot depicts
a dark colored SUV attempt to park in the north parking lot of the Synagogue. The driver, a white
male wearing green utility pants and a black shirt, later identified as Defendant SECHRIEST, got
out of the vehicle. The vehicle then began to roll backward, requiring Defendant to jump back
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7. Defendant then left the vehicle a second time, leaving the driver’s side door open,
and walked around the front of the vehicle towards the Synagogue and out of view of the parking
Synagogue administration office, Defendant, seen with a face covering and watch on his right wrist
and carrying a green container in one hand – similar in size, shape, and color to a green five-gallon
VP Racing Fuel utility jug – and a roll of toilet paper in the other hand, walked up a handicap ramp
towards the Synagogue’s administration office entrance. The five-gallon utility jug may have been
full or near full, because Defendant leaned to one side while carrying the jug.
9. A few seconds later, the video shows Defendant walking back down the handicap
ramp away from the administration office entrance, carrying the jug and toilet paper, and then
walking along an adjacent pathway toward the front doors of the Synagogue sanctuary and out of
10. Multiple surveillance videos then captured the distinct glow of a fire ignition
appearing to come from the direction of the Synagogue sanctuary. Within seconds after the fire
ignition, surveillance video from the parking area security camera shows Defendant jogging away
from the direction of the Synagogue sanctuary and the ignited fire towards the open driver’s side
11. Surveillance video then shows Defendant putting the jug into the SUV, entering the
SUV through the driver’s side door, and remaining inside the stationary vehicle for several
seconds. The SUV then went in reverse and departed the parking area.
12. Defendant appeared to be alone at the Synagogue during the entire time he was
there on October 31, 2021, as no other persons were observed on surveillance footage.
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13. I later observed surveillance video from the Synagogue recorded on October 28,
2021. Video from a parking lot camera showed a dark colored SUV, similar in appearance and
body style to the SUV used by Defendant on October 31, 2021, enter the north parking lot closest
to the Synagogue’s sanctuary and drive away shortly thereafter. A few minutes later, the same
vehicle appeared on video from a security camera covering the front entrance to the Synagogue’s
Child Development Center (CDC). The CDC is a building physically connected to the Synagogue
structure.
14. Surveillance video showed the vehicle drive through the roundabout in front of the
CDC, hit and park on the curb directly in front of the Child Development Center, and using what
appeared to be the flashlight from a cellular smart phone and shining it toward the entrance to the
CDC. The video clearly shows the SUV, which was later identified as a black Jeep Cherokee
bearing Texas license plate PMZ-0448. The vehicle was being driven by a white male with dark
colored hair. After approximately 30 seconds, the Jeep Cherokee departed from camera view.
15. The following is a still frame from surveillance footage on October 28, 2021,
showing the black Jeep Cherokee bearing Texas license plate PMZ-0448:
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16. The following is a still frame from surveillance footage on October 31, 2021,
17. Texas Department of Motor Vehicle Records showed that the black Jeep Cherokee
bearing Texas license plate PMZ-0448 was a 2021 Jeep Cherokee registered to a person believed
18. On November 8, 9, and 10, 2021, a FBI surveillance team observed Defendant
driving the 2021 Jeep Cherokee bearing Texas license plate PMZ-0448, including to and from
Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where Defendant attends classes. Agents believe he
19. On November 10, 2021, FBI executed federal search warrants issued by this Court
authorizing the search of and seizure of evidence from Defendant’s residence in San Marcos,
Texas, the 2021 Jeep Cherokee motor vehicle, and Defendant’s person.
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20. During the execution of the search warrants, investigators found, among other
things, clothes consistent with the clothes Defendant was seen wearing on the October 31
surveillance videos during the commission of the arson, including green utility pants, and work
boots.
21. During the searches, agents also recovered an American Express card bearing an
account number ending in 2036 in a wallet both of which, according to a person interviewed at the
American Express card bearing an account number ending in 2036 was used at Cabela’s sporting
goods store in Buda, Texas, to purchase a green five-gallon VP Racing Fuel utility jug.
22. During the search of the Jeep Cherokee, agents recovered the following items:
three 33oz glass bottles, three 32oz bottles of lighter fluid, a lighter and an orange storm proof
match case with matches. Based on my training and experience, and that of other agents
knowledgeable about explosive devices, these items are consistent with materials that can be used
23. Also found in the Jeep Cherokee vehicle used by Defendant were three stickers,
shown in the following photograph, along with three of the aforementioned 33oz glass bottles:
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24. During the search of the residence, inside a vehicle parked in the garage (not the
2021 Jeep Cherokee), agents recovered a 2021 planning calendar. In the date boxes for August
Defendant, was the phrase “Nigger-appreciation class.” The following is a picture of this planning
calendar entry:
25. Agents also recovered journals, confirmed by a person interviewed at the residence
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Defendant’s preparation for the arson, his commission of the arson at the Synagogue on October
31, and his subsequent effort in tracking law enforcement’s investigation of the arson.
26. An excerpt from Defendant’s journal dated October 28, 2021, depicted below,
contains the phrase “scout out a target,” which comports with the activities seen on Synagogue
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27. A two-page excerpt from Defendant’s journal dated October 31, 2021, depicted
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28. An excerpt from Defendant’s journal dated November 02, 2021, depicted below,
appears to indicate that Defendant was tracking the progress of the investigation from media
reports:
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29. Investigation has determined that the fire set by Defendant caused damage to the
real property of the Synagogue in excess of $25,000 and was capable of destroying a building by
means of fire.
30. The building comprising the burned portion of the Synagogue is used in interstate
commerce and used in activities affecting interstate commerce. In particular, as noted above, the
Synagogue operates the CDC, which is structurally connected to the Synagogue building that was
preschool programs, charges tuition for its programs, and is open to both members and non-
Conclusion
31. Based on the foregoing, there is probable cause to believe that FRANKLIN
BARRETT SECHRIEST has committed the offense(s) set forth in the attached Criminal
Complaint.
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I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct to the best of my
_____________________
THOMAS P. JOY, JR.
Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Austin, Texas
Sworn to me by telephone under Rule 4.1 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure on
____________________________________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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