A 22-Year-Old Man With Telugu Origins Arrested In The United States For Arson At A Place Of Worship In Texas
Lella was arrested by the Collin county police in Texas for threatening to set fire to a place of worship, with reports stating that he threatened to burn down his own house.
Hyderabad: Manojh Sai Lella, a 22-year-old with Telugu origins, was arrested in the United States for arson “intent to damage a habitat or place of worship,” and charges of “misdemeanour terroristic threats.”
Lella was arrested by the Collin county police in Texas for threatening to set fire to a place of worship, with reports stating that he threatened to burn down his own house.
Lella was pursuing his Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) in information technology from the University of Texas at Dallas. His LinkedIn profile stated that he had proficiency in English, Telugu and Spanish.
Arrest records stated that Lella was arrested and booked on December 22, and the Collin county sheriff's office acted under an existing arrest warrant for the accused.
The records stated that he was charged with a Class-A misdemeanor charge of “terroristic threat to family/household”, indicating that he made threats against his family members or someone in the same household. He was also charged with a first-degree felony charge of “arson intended to damage habitat/place of worship”, showing that he intended or threatened to set fire to a home or a religious place.
A first-degree felony conviction in Texas can be imposed with a sentence of five to 99 years or life in prison, while a Class-A misdemeanor charge can be punishable for up to one year in prison.