A RIO RANCHO MAN COULD GET UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON IF FOUND GUILTY ON FEDERAL ARSON CHARGES. THE U.S. ATTORNEYS OFFICE ALLEGES 23 YEAR OLD GORDON SCHULER INTENTIONALLY STARTED THE FIRE THAT HEAVILY DAMAGED PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN RIO RANCHO EARLY MONDAY MORNING. THE NEXT DAY RIO RANCHO POLICE ARRESTED SCHULER FOR PROBATION VIOLATION.
PROSECUTORS SAY SCHULER WAS CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO AT A BUSINESS NEAR THE CHURCH CARRYING A HAMMER AND WEARING A BACKPACK…AND THAT THOSE ITEMS WERE LATER FOUND BY INVESTIGATORS INSIDE THE CHURCH.
