LAKE HAVASU CITY – After legal technicalities impeded previous attempts, a plea agreement has been entered in a bid to resolve a church arson case in Lake Havasu City, without need of trial. Keith Gensamer, 50, pleaded guilty May 7 to an arson of a structure charge.
It’s never been contested that Gensamer entered the renovated, upgraded Smoketree Avenue Campus Calvary Baptist Church last Nov., poured gasoline inside and lit fires. Flames damaged an electronics room, the altar and other parts of the church interior.
No one was injured.
During a Feb. hearing, defense attorney Marcus Spradlin informed the court that Gensamer incurred Post Traumatic Stress Disorder mental health issues associated with multiple military tours of duty overseas. Spradlin said his client had been drinking and set the fire in an attempt to draw police so that he might die in a suicide by cop scenario.
It has neither been suspected nor alleged that Gensamer had any issue with the church, its leadership or members of its congregation.
Terms of the deal allow for probation, though Gensamer could get up to 1.5 years in prison when sentenced June 5. He’s also accepting responsibility for restitution, which could be contentious.
Hearings have revealed that church leadership puts damage in the half-million-dollar arena, while an insurance company has measured the loss at $250,000. The specific restitution amount could be determined by stipulation or decided at a contested hearing.
Dave Hawkins
