Should make for an interesting defense argument.

A man has been arrested in Fort Smith after authorities accused him of destroying three religious statues at a Buddhist temple.

Shawn Michael Israel, 21, of Fort Smith was being held at the Sebastian County jail Tuesday on suspicion of first degree criminal mischief greater than $5,000 but less than $25,000, a class C felony, according to the Sebastian County sheriff’s office inmate inquiry. A court date has been set for May 11.

Fort Smith police were dispatched to Wat Lao Santitham at 4625 Armour St. on Sunday afternoon in reference to a theft in progress, according to a report provided by department spokesman AricCQ Mitchell. Officers arrived and saw Israel destroying a religious statue with a hammer, after which they arrested him.

Israel told authorities that he was commanded by scripture to destroy the statue, which he referred to as a “false idol.” He said multiple times that he was only following the Ten Commandments and did what God told him to do through scripture. Israel had a Bible with him when officers arrested him.

When asked about the hammer he had, Israel said he used it to destroy the statue, according to police. He went on to say that he had tried to destroy the statue the previous day, but the tool he was using broke as he demolished the statue’s head. He returned on Sunday to smash the body of the statue with the hammer, police said.