Prison for Sweet Home, OR, Church Arsonist

Oct. 31—A Sutherlin man was sentenced to five years in prison for setting fire to a church in Sweet Home.

Andrew Jacob Justin Cartwright, 37, pleaded guilty to felony first-degree arson last week at the Linn County courthouse.

Oregon State Police arrested Cartwright in April 2023 in connection with a February 2023 fire at the Fir Lawn Lutheran Church which left the building severely damaged, according to authorities.

During his arraignment last year on charges of arson burglary and criminal mischief, he said he did not want a lawyer, although he was ultimately provided with representation, and admitted he was guilty of starting the fire.

"I did it because I don't like church," Cartwright told the court, adding that he wanted to proceed with sentencing as quickly as possible. "I ain't going nowhere; I'm going to prison for life."

Fir Lawn Lutheran Church Council President Barb Moody declined to comment about the case's outcome or Cartwright's sentencing. In the aftermath of the fire, Fir Lawn has held its services at the Sweet Home United Methodist Church.

On Oct. 17, the Sweet Home Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider a conditional use permit allowing American Legion Post 133 to occupy the former Fir Lawn building. Commissioners unanimously approved the permit application.

Moody confirmed the Legion's interest in buying the building, saying plans are in motion to install a new roof before any sale is made.

A suspicious early-morning fire

Around 1:25 a.m. Feb. 25, 2023, someone called 911 to report that the Fir Lawn Lutheran Church at 109 W. Holley Road was on fire.

Responding firefighters found flames and smoke billowing from the church. Sweet Home Fire District called for backup from Albany, Brownsville and Halsey, upgrading the fire to a two-alarm emergency. Fire crews reportedly worked the scene for more than an hour.

Investigators discovered multiple ignition points in the church, along with the possibility that accelerants were used, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Oregon State Police. An arson-detecting K-9 was brought down by Portland Fire & Rescue to further confirm someone intentionally lit the blaze.

Using security video from a neighbor's house and the Thriftway gas station, police zeroed in on Cartwright as their suspect, the affidavit states, noting that Cartwright wore a distinctive high-visibility jacket similar to what firefighters typically wear.

Sweet Home police tried contacting Cartwright under the Pleasant Valley Bridge, where he was reportedly known to camp, but he wasn't there, according to the affidavit. Instead, officers found a burned Bible at the campsite along with mail addressed to Cartwright.

Around 12 hours after the fire, Cartwright was seen using a computer at the Sweet Home Public Library. The library director told officers that Cartwright smelled strongly of smoke — and not just campfire smoke but something much stronger, the affidavit states.

When Oregon troopers found Cartwright in April 2023, he reportedly said he had stayed the night at the church and caught a ride to Roseburg the next morning. He acknowledged he was wearing a green and black reflective jacket that night.

He later admitted to setting the fire, the affidavit states.

Court records show Cartwright was previously convicted of harassment, possession of methamphetamine, carrying a concealed weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle, trespassing, DUII and unlawful firearm possession.

In January 2017, Cartwright was arrested in Lebanon on suspicion of raping and sexually abusing a mentally incapacitated woman in 2013. A jury found him not guilty and he was acquitted on all charges in that case.

Cartwright was determined to be mentally unfit to proceed with court hearings in May 2023, according to court records, which indicate he was treated at the Oregon State Hospital. He subsequently was found fit to proceed in August 2024.

At the time of sentencing in Cartwright's arson case, he was also sentenced in another case in which he was charged with third-degree robbery, third-degree theft and failure to appear. Cartwright pleaded guilty to the robbery charge and was sentenced to 18 months concurrent with the five-year arson sentence.

He was also ordered to pay $10 restitution to the victim in the robbery case, Serrano's Taqueria, according to court documents.

Cartwright is currently held at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, according to Department of Corrections records. His earliest release date is listed as June 16, 2028.

___

Visit Albany Democrat-Herald, Ore. at www.democratherald.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.