A 20-year old Alliance man faces a maximum 20 years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court in connection with his attempt to burn down a Chester Township church because of the church’s support for the LGBTQI+ community.
According to court documents, on March 25, Aimenn D. Penny made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland. Angered by the church’s plan to host two drag events the following weekend, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the church, hoping to burn it to the ground.
According to a Chester Township Police news release, officers were dispatched at approximately 1:05 p.m. to the church in reference to property damage and a possible arson complaint.
Upon arrival officers noted that at least one incendiary had struck the exterior of the church, resulting in minor damage. No portion of the structure appeared to have ignited, however scorching was noted on the exterior.
The church was unoccupied at the time.
Penny pleaded guilty to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and to using fire and explosives to commit a felony.
According to a United States Justice Department news release, Penny was arrested and charged earlier this year with violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device.
“Attempting to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland for their support of the LGBTQI+ community is reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in this country for such bias-motivated violence and terror, and the Justice Department will continue to protect all Americans in their free exercise of religious beliefs by vigorously prosecuting those who target houses of worship.
“Our churches should be safe havens for all people, not sites subjected to violence motivated by hate and vitriol.”
“Mr. Penny admitted to attempting to burn down a church because he did not like the way congregants chose to express their beliefs,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Such acts of extremist violence are antithetical to core American values of freedom of expression and worship and we will not tolerate those who would use force to deny our citizens the free exercise of their rights.”
According to the release, Penny faces a maximum 20 years in prison for the violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act and a 10-year mandatory prison sentence that will run consecutively with any other prison term imposed for using fire to commit a federal felony.
Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 29.
