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The arson as a hate crime charge carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. Kalchik had initially called on parishioners to burn their donation pledge cards as well during the burning of the flag, while they prayerfully sing Psalm 141, ‘Let my prayer arise before you. It is difficult to see how a 16-year prison sentence accomplishes any of those goals,” Reyes added. “That said, true justice should always strive to be about rehabilitation, reconciliation and healing communities. “Hate crimes against the LGBTQ community are a serious matter as they inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and strike fear into the communities they target,” Reyes said. He was sentenced to 15 years for arson as a hate crime, one year for reckless use of explosives or fire and 30 days for harassment, according to the report.Ĭourtney Reyes, executive director of the statewide LGBTQ group One Iowa, told the network she appreciates how seriously the case was handled, but added the imposed sentence might actually be taking things too far. “I burned down their pride, plain and simple,” Martinez told local outlet KCCI back in June. Martinez admitted he did it because he opposes homosexuality, and a jury convicted him last month, according to NBC News. Hatemongers, alleged cop attackers among those busted at Washington Square ParkĪn Iowa man will spend up to 16 years behind bars for stealing a pride flag from an Iowa church and setting it on fire - a sentence that even a local LGBTQ group says might be excessive, according to a new report.Īdolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, was sentenced Wednesday for stealing the pride banner hanging at Ames Church of Christ back in June - and then burning it with lighter fluid and a lighter outside the Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club, The Des Moines Register reported. LI man threatened to 'assault, shoot and bomb' NYC Pride, LGBT orgs and individualsĭisney star: I had 'dangerous' gay conversion therapy before coming outĪmericans will be able to pick their passport gender