Overview

• Austin Willard Tanton, 28, and Kayla Lynn Thompson, 31, were taken into custody in Cleveland, Texas on Sept. 19 following a federal indictment.
• Both are charged with conspiracy to commit malicious use of explosive materials and using explosive materials in the commission of a felony, and Tanton also faces possession of an unregistered destructive device.
• Investigators say surveillance and court records identify Tanton as the person who threw a gasoline-filled jar into the Huyen Trang Buddhist Meditation Center and Thompson as the driver.
• No injuries were reported in the November 2023 attack, and temple staff extinguished the fire, though smoke damage temporarily closed the center.
• If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors are seeking $40,000 in asset forfeiture, and Tanton could receive an additional 10-year term.