Freedomites Mary Braun, 72, and Tina Jmaeff, 68, were sentenced to two years in prison and three years' probation in provincial court yesterday for setting fire to J.J. Verigan's home in Grand Forks.

Verigan's wife, Laura, said she was alone when Braun and Jmaeff came to the house March 1 and set it on fire with two brown bags.

NELSON - Members of a Doukhobor sect known as the Sons of Freedom have become terrorists, says a prosecutor.

Freedomites Mary Braun, 72, and Tina Jmaeff, 68, were sentenced to two years in prison and three years' probation in provincial court yesterday for setting fire to J.J. Verigan's home in Grand Forks.

Verigan is the spiritual leader of the orthodox Doukhobors' United Spiritual Communities of Christ.

The Freedomites have come full-circle since they escaped czarist Russia 100 years ago, said Crown counsel Dana Urban.

"If they look in a mirror they would see they have become like the czar of Russia. They force their beliefs on others, persecute them and intimidate them."

Verigan's wife, Laura, said she was alone when Braun and Jmaeff came to the house March 1 and set it on fire with two brown bags.

"Through my experience, I knew they meant trouble and fire." The flames were doused before the house could be damaged.

Provincial court Judge Stewart Enderton said the women would not be allowed to be with each other or with another Freedomite, Pauline Berikoff, who was jailed two weeks ago.