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Wednesday and use a small lighter to try to ignite it.
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Police spokesman Sam Clemens says an officer saw the 24-year-old man take the flag down about 10:30 p.m. Berkeley police arrested a 32-year-old man who burned a rainbow flag at an LGBTQ community center and then punched a staff member who tried to stop him, authorities said. Gebbie did, however, say she will forgive Martinez for his actions and hoped that he’d change his outlook on gay individuals. A man is facing charges after he was accused of taking down a gay pride flag from a Sioux Falls business and trying to burn it.
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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. "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." 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. "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. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years for the hate crime of arson and given a year for reckless use of explosives or fire and 30 days for harassment. 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. NEVADA, Iowa (AP) A man has been imprisoned for burning an LGBTQ flag that was flying at a church in central Iowa. Eileen Gebbie, the senior minister at United Church of Christ who happens to be gay herself, said, “It doesn’t feel good. Martinez pleaded not guilty despite saying he had no plans to fight the charges and claiming, “I’m guilty. “It is a judgment, and it is written to execute vengeance on the heathen and punishments upon the people.” On June 30, Adolpha Martinez stole the flag from Ames Church of Christ in Iowa and burned it. It was a blessing from the Lord,” Martinez said. According to KCCI-TV, a man will be serving 17 years in prison because he stole an LGBT flag from a church and then proceeded to burn it in front of a men’s strip club. When he committed the crimes in June, he told KCCI that he did it because he despises homosexuality. Martinez, who has two other felonies, received the maximum sentence of 16 years for his crimes because he was a habitual offender. 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.