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(CNN) A member of a neo-Nazi group was arrested Friday after attempting to burn down a church that was supposed to host a drag show event in Ohio, according to court documents.
Amen D. Penney, 20, of Alliance, Ohio, was charged in the United States District Court in Cleveland with one count of misusing explosives and one count of possessing a destructive device, according to the criminal complaint.
A Justice Department press release alleges that Penny “used a Molotov cocktail against the Chesterland Community Church in Chesterland, Ohio, attempting to burn the church down.”
“As alleged in the indictment, defendant used an explosive device to harm a church he disliked,” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said in a release. rice field. “It is the Department of Justice’s solemn duty to protect the right to free expression of all Americans, and I commend law enforcement for their efforts in this matter.”
Burn marks can be seen on the door of the Community Church of Chesterland (CCC) in Chesterland, Ohio.
According to an affidavit filed in court on Friday, the FBI alleges that Penny is a member of the pro-Nazi group “White Lives Matter,” which the FBI said was “racist, He has pro-Nazi, homophobic views.”
Penny confessed to trying to burn down the church using Molotov cocktails “to protect the children and stop the drag show event.”
CNN reached out to the attorney named to represent Penny, but did not receive an immediate response. Penny made her first appearance in federal court on Friday and was taken into custody. Michelle Stull, chief deputy at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Cleveland, told CNN he is due for a court hearing on Thursday.
The affidavit claims that a church in Ohio was targeted in the early hours of Saturday, March 25. Broken sign on southeast corner of building and property.
Investigators recovered glass shards containing a cloth-like substance from each of the vodka and beer bottles, the affidavit said. A burnt matchstick and a bottle of blue plastic spray containing gasoline were found near the damaged door.
Law enforcement obtained a court order to collect historical location data from Penny’s phone after receiving the information, the affidavit said. While searching Penny’s house, agents found a Nazi flag and other Nazi memorabilia, a handwritten note with an ideological statement, a White Lives Matter in Ohio T-shirt, a gas mask, and a blue shirt. We found multiple rolls of painter’s tape and gas cans.
The affidavit also states that Penny traveled to Wadsworth, Ohio on March 11 to attend a drag queen storyhour and “distribute propaganda flyers representing White Lives Matter Ohio’s anti-drag queen views.” said.
The Chesterland community church in Geoga County has moved forward to host a drag queen story hour and brunch event on Saturday, the church’s pastor told CNN.
Pastor Jess Peacock said it wasn’t the first time the church had been targeted. They said church representatives have received hateful emails and messages in recent weeks, including protests and threats of violence against planned drug events.
“There isn’t a day or two I haven’t received a hate message from my personal cell phone,” Peacock said.
Peacock said he was “relieved” and “very happy” about Friday’s arrest. It will be done there, Peacock added.
“We have no ill will towards this man. “We want to see peace, not violence,” Peacock said.
Michelle M. Baepler, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said:
“As Americans, we enjoy the right to disagree, but speaking peacefully is the only appropriate option.
If convicted, Penny could face a minimum of five to 20 years in prison for explosives misuse and up to 10 years in prison for possession of a destructive device, according to the Justice Department.
Samantha Beech and Celina Tebor contributed to this story.
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