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Gebbie did, however, say she will forgive Martinez for his actions and hoped that he’d change his outlook on gay individuals. "But 12 people that I don't know, who have no investment in me or this congregation, said this man committed a crime, and it was crime born of bigotry and hatred." Flag desecration is the desecration of a flag, violation of flag protocol, or various acts that intentionally destroy, damage, or mutilate a flag in public. "I often experienced Ames as not being as progressive as many people believe it is, and there still is a very large closeted queer community here," Gebbie explained. Gebbie told the Des Moines Register that she was pleased that a jury found Martinez guilty because she doesn’t believe Ames is welcoming to gay people. Eileen Gebbie, the senior minister at United Church of Christ who happens to be gay herself, said, “It doesn’t feel good. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames last month was found guilty of a hate. Martinez pleaded not guilty despite saying he had no plans to fight the charges and claiming, “I’m guilty. 1:52 DES MOINES, Iowa An Iowa man was sentenced to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June. “It is a judgment, and it is written to execute vengeance on the heathen and punishments upon the people.”
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It was a blessing from the Lord,” Martinez said. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years for the hate crime of arson, as well as a year for the reckless use of explosives or fire, and 30 days for harassment. Police say 30-year-old Adolfo Martinez stole a flag from Ames United Church of Christ and burned it outside Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club in Ames, Iowa, on June 11, The Des Moines Register reported. The Associated Press NEVADA, Iowa - A man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for burning an LGBTQ flag that was flying at a church in central Iowa.
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When he committed the crimes in June, he told KCCI that he did it because he despises homosexuality. A court sentenced an Iowa man to 16 years in prison Wednesday after he set fire to an LGBTQ flag from a church. Martinez stole an LGBTQ flag from the Ames United Church. 30-year-old Adolfo Martinez was convicted Wednesday of Arson in the Third Degree, Harassment in the Third Degree, Reckless Use of Fire and Habitual Offender. Martinez, who has two other felonies, received the maximum sentence of 16 years for his crimes because he was a habitual offender. NEVADA The Story County Attorney’s Office is calling the conviction of a man who burned an LGBTQ flag in Ames historic.