South Carolina Man Worden Evander Butler Accused of Cross Burning After Posting Black Neighbor’s House Online

Federal prosecutors accused a South Carolina man of burning a cross in his backyard to frighten a Black family living nearby, reviving painful reminders of one of America’s most infamous symbols of racial intimidation.

Worden Evander Butler, 31, of Conway, South Carolina, was indicted on charges of interfering with housing rights and using fire to commit a federal felony after investigators said he targeted neighbors during Thanksgiving weekend in November 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina.

Investigators alleged Butler posted photographs of the family’s home, vehicles, and mailbox on social media before setting up and igniting a cross near his property. Federal prosecutors also cited Facebook posts in which Butler allegedly referred to the neighbors as “racist” and wrote about wanting to “give them a good scare for the health.”

Incident reportedly unfolded on Nov. 24, 2023, in Conway, a city northwest of Myrtle Beach. Prosecutors argue statements included in Butler’s social media activity support allegations that the cross burning was intended to threaten residents and interfere with federally protected housing rights.

Cross burnings remain among the most historically charged acts tied to racial intimidation in the United States, particularly throughout the South, where they were long associated with white supremacist violence, segregation era terror campaigns, and threats directed at Black families and civil rights activists.

Federal law prohibits intimidation or threats aimed at interfering with housing rights because of race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. Prosecutors have repeatedly pursued cases involving racial harassment tied to homes because of longstanding civil rights protections.

Civil rights advocates have long argued attacks connected to housing carry unique emotional weight because homes are viewed as places of security and protection. Acts designed to frighten residents where they live often receive heightened scrutiny from federal investigators and prosecutors.

Federal authorities have increasingly emphasized aggressive prosecution of hate crimes and racially motivated intimidation in recent years. Justice Department officials have repeatedly stated acts involving threats, fire, or symbols historically connected to racial violence remain priority cases under federal civil rights enforcement.

Butler has not been convicted and will have an opportunity to challenge the allegations in court as the criminal case moves through the federal system. Conviction on federal civil rights charges could carry serious legal penalties depending on findings presented during trial proceedings.

Case has also renewed discussion about how symbols tied to racial violence continue appearing in criminal investigations decades after passage of major civil rights legislation. Legal experts say prosecutions involving cross burnings remain relatively rare but often draw intense public attention because of the country’s history surrounding race and intimidation.

Federal prosecutors must now convince a jury Butler intentionally used fire and intimidation to threaten neighbors and interfere with their right to live safely inside their home. Charges filed this week transformed what may have started as a neighborhood conflict into a federal civil rights prosecution carrying national historical weight.