CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / HUNTINGTON BEACH

A Huntington Beach man has been charged with a hate crime after allegedly trying to set an Irvine church on fire several times, according to Orange County prosecutors.

Izad Chavoshan, 30, allegedly set trash cans on fire in front of his former church, Orange County Church of Christ, and threw trash cans at the building. Prosecutors say he had become disgruntled with the church’s teachings.

He was arraigned Friday on three felony counts of arson and one felony count of attempted arson and faces a hate crime sentencing enhancement, prosecutors said. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in state prison.

“The defendant, a former church member, is accused of disagreeing with the church and its teachings,” according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office.

-- Shelby Grad