Tennessee Man Sentenced for Arson and Terrorism Support
Regan Darby Prater receives over 17 years in prison for a 2019 arson attack and attempting to support a foreign terrorist group.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Terrorism
A federal court sentenced Tennessee resident Regan Darby Prater to 210 months in prison for arson and attempting to provide material support to Hizballah. Prater, who pleaded guilty in April 2026, also received three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $1,289,000 in restitution.
Why it matters
Prater committed the arson at the Highlander Center in New Market motivated by white-supremacist ideology. He also attempted to facilitate terrorism by sharing the private information of over 35,000 individuals with someone he believed represented Hizballah.
Regan Darby Prater was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison following his April 2026 guilty plea. The court further mandated three years of supervised release and $1,289,000 in restitution for his crimes.
The players
Regan Darby Prater
The defendant is a Tennessee resident who committed arson and attempted to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Highlander Center
This nonprofit organization is a research and education center located in New Market, Tennessee.
Hizballah
The United States has officially designated this organization as a foreign terrorist entity since 1997.
The details
Prater drove from Tullahoma to the Highlander Center in New Market, where he destroyed a building using a napalm-based incendiary device and spray-painted an Iron Guard symbol. The investigation also revealed that in 2019, he attempted to support Hizballah by transferring a document containing the personally identifiable information of over 35,000 people affiliated with the government of Israel.
Timeline
2019: Prater attempted to provide material support to Hizballah.
April 2026: Prater pleaded guilty to arson and support charges.
October 20, 2026: Prater received his prison sentence.
Legal Context
This conviction highlights the long-standing federal application of the Foreign Terrorist Organization designation process under the Immigration and Nationality Act to prosecute domestic attempts at material support. The case underscores the severity of combining hate-motivated arson with international terrorism charges.
The investigation and sentencing of Prater provide closure to a dangerous incident that threatened a prominent regional educational center. Residents in the area, particularly those associated with the targeted institutions, are advised to maintain vigilance regarding data privacy due to the compromised information of 35,000 individuals.
The takeaway
This case serves as a stark reminder of the intersection between local hate crimes and federal terrorism charges. Citizens should prioritize the security of sensitive personal information to prevent the type of mass data exposure seen in this investigation.
Further reading
For more information on legal actions taken against terror-related activities in the region, visit the Terrorism section.
