Federal prosecutors have charged Everardo Gregorio, 31, with obstruction of religious exercise by fire over the March 3, 2025 blaze at Khal Chasidim in Casa Grande. The charge carries up to 20 years in prison. A separate Pinal County arson case is also pending.
The fire destroyed the worship space, along with a kosher grocery and restaurant in the same building. The Torah scrolls were not inside.
The question nobody has answered
A Catholic church in Casa Grande that burned months earlier is being rebuilt. As of the last reporting, Khal Chasidim had not been. Why not, whether insurance, money or ownership, has not been explained publicly.
Kol Phoenix will ask, and will pull the federal and Pinal County dockets for trial dates.
How we reported this: based on Department of Justice announcements and coverage by Fox 10 and Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. A charge is an accusation, not a conviction. If you know the status of the rebuild, write to [email protected].