Prior to his final sentencing Martinez gave an impact statement and indicated that he would never stop and was “living by God’s laws,” Reynolds said. “The hard reality is there are people who target individuals and commit crimes against individuals because of their race, gender, s*xual orientation, and when that happens it’s so important that as a society we stand up and people have severe consequences for those actions,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said Martinez is the first person to be convicted of a hate crime in the county. Martinez 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. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime a class 'D' felony third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire. Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said hate crime charges were added because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone's property because of "what it represents as far as s*xual orientation." Iowa man sentenced to 16 years for setting LGBTQ flag on fire An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June. An Iowa man who was found guilty of lighting a local church’s LGBTQ flag on fire was sentenced to more than 16 years in. Martinez admitted to police that he lit the banner on fire using lighter fluid and a lighter after stealing it from the church, according to court documents. By Jessica Chasmar - The Washington Times - Thursday, December 19, 2019. Adolfo Martinez, 30, was found guilty last month of a hate crime, third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire after admitting to police in June that he stole a pride banner hanging outside the Ames United Church of Christ and set it on fire using. Adolfo Martinez stole a gay pride flag flying outside a. Ames, Iowa, police commander Jason Tuttle said that Martinez told the people in the bar that he was going to burn the place to the ground and at that point he made.
Police said he stole a pride banner hanging at Ames United Church of Christ and burned it early June 11 outside the Dangerous Curves Gentleman’s Club. An Iowa man who was found guilty of lighting a local church’s LGBTQ flag on fire was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison Wednesday. An incredible story out of Iowa, where an Ames man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for burning an LGBTQ rainbow flag. 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.Īdolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames last month was found guilty of a hate crime – a class "D" felony – third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire.