Arroyo Grande, CA -- Nearly four months after a cross burning outraged the local community, four people are behind bars accused of the crime. The Arroyo Grande Police Chief says it took several agencies and more than 5,000 hours of investigation to link the four suspects to the crime.

On March 18 someone burned a cross next to a black woman's home on South Elm Street. Police have been investigating the incident as a hate crime. Officers say the cross was stolen from Saint John's Lutheran Church. The suspects include 20-year-old transient William Soto, 36-year-old Jason Kahn of Orcutt, 32-year-old Jeremiah Hernandez and 24-year-old Sara Matheny, both transients from San Simeon.

The suspects were arrested on unrelated charges and booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail before Friday's charges were filed. All four face felony charges of arson, cross burning, terrorism and conspiracy, all with hate crime enhancements. Kahn also faces a charge of witness intimidation.