A judge in Iowa has sentenced a man to at least 15 years in prison for stealing a Pride flag from outside a church and burning it outside a strip club.
The man, Adolfo Martinez, 30, admitted afterward that he had stolen and burned the flag because he doesn’t like gay people. Because of this admission, he was found guilty of a hate crime, in addition to arson and harassment.
The incident happened June 11 in Ames, Iowa, reports the BBC.
Related: Arsonist sets pride flag on fire outside home of sleeping family
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Police were called to a disturbance at Dangerous Curves Gentlemen’s Club, where Martinez was making threats to staff. By the time police arrived, the staff had ejected him from the premises.
He then apparently went to the nearby Ames United Church of Christ. The church had a rainbow Pride flag flying outside. Its senior minister, Rev. Eileen Gebbie, is a gay woman and told local media the flag is displayed as a sign of inclusion.
Ames ripped down the flag and went back to the strip club. He proceeded to douse it with lighter fluid and burn it, along with a tire, in the street. He also threatened to burn down the club.
He was arrested and subsequently gave an interview to KCCI-TV. He admitted his crime and said, “It’s my honor. It is written. It is a judgment and it’s written to execute vengeance on the heathen and punishments on the people. It was an honor to do that. It’s a blessing from the Lord.”
Asked directly if his crime “was about homosexuality,” he replied, “Yes, yes, yes. Exactly. I burned down their pride, plain and simple.”
The interview was used in evidence in the court. Martinez was found guilty last month of third-degree arson in violation of individual rights — hate crime, third-degree harassment, and reckless use of fire as a habitual offender. He returned to court this week for sentencing.
Related: After being charged with one antigay hate crime, this idiot went and did it a second time
According to the Des Moines Register, he faced a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the hate crime and arson charge. However, the fact he is a habitual offender allowed the judge to increase the sentence.
He also got one year for the reckless use of explosives or fire, and 30 days for harassment – all of which will be served consecutively.
Sam6969
I will certainly not cry for Adolf.
Chrisk
I’d say the true blessing is your sorry but dangerous ass is now off the streets for a good 15 years. Bye dumbass. Lol
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
It’s truly as ugly on the inside as it is on outside…
Chrisk
Someone like this that goes to the lengths he does to prove his heterosexuality (burns a gay flag outside a strip club) is definitely hiding his own sexuality. He’ll get to explore it in Prison though.
Brian
Does this sentence seem really excessive to anyone else?
Henreid
From the article:
“However, the fact he is a habitual offender allowed the judge to increase the sentence.”
Brian
I saw that. But 15 years for burning a flag? People get significantly less than that for major felonies like manslaughter.
David Myers
Did you miss the part where they say he threatened to burn down the strip club (while he was burning the flag)? So not only repeated hate crimes . . . but also threats of terrorism and mass murder! Think about it!
Brian
None of the charges had anything to do with terrorism or attempted murder. Try again.
Kangol2
He probably wakes up and goes to sleep dreaming of d!cks in every one of his orifices.
Kieran
“Habitual Offender sentenced to 15 years after stealing and burning Pride flag”
There. Fixed the headline for you.
shigellosis
for god’s sake. it was just a f’ing flag. folks can burn the American flag and are protected by free speech… this is way over-kill