Fifteen years in Iowa jail for burning pride flag

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Fifteen years in Iowa jail for burning pride flag

19 December 2019

A US judge has handed down a sentence of at least 15 years to a man who stole an LGBT pride flag from a church and burned it outside a strip club.

Adolfo Martinez, 30, admitted to the media that he took the flag from Ames United Church of Christ due to his animosity towards homosexuals.

He was found guilty last month of hate crime harassment, reckless use of fire and being a habitual offender.

The incident occurred around midnight on 11 June in downtown Ames, Iowa.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50861259


Adolfo Martinez, 30, admitted to his crimes in a jailhouse interview (Police Handout)

[Joinfortmill]

1. Way out of proportion

Don't like it, but Let's serve justice, not vengeance. This should have been a fine and community service.

[CaptYossarian]

2. The hate crime statute automatically doubles the sentence. It's supposed to be a deterrent

for any copy cats with the same hate-filled hearts. Besides, Adolf-o might not settle for burning just a flag next time either, considering how many trans people have been found burned to death recently.

At least the pond scum is off the streets. I'll feed and house him for that long--and provide psychological services too. He needs some deprogramming.

[Eugene]

3. The article beyond paragraph 4 details the incident.

The flag burning was an act of arson against the strip club and part of a larger rampage. His being a convicted as a "habitual offender" (three strikes) was the final nail in the coffin. Alternative sentences a indented for first time offenders, not for convicts deemed incorrigible.

[Odoreida]

4. The real issue is the "three strikes" law. n/t