(CNN) 鈥� An Ohio man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from his attempt in March 2023 to , a week before it planned to host two drag show events, according to the US Department of Justice.
Aimenn D. Penny, 20, pleaded guilty in October to one count of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and one count of using fire and explosives to commit a felony, in a news release Tuesday. As part of his sentence, he also faces three years of supervised release following his time in prison.
鈥淭his sentence holds Mr. Penny accountable for carrying out violence against an Ohio church because he disagreed with the way congregants chose to express their beliefs,鈥� Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department鈥檚 National Security Division said in a statement.
鈥淪uch acts of extremist violence have no place in our communities and the Justice Department is committed to bringing to justice those who would use or threaten violence to prevent their fellow citizens from freely exercising their fundamental rights,鈥� Olsen said.
At the time of his arrest, the Justice Department said Penny used Molotov cocktails in an attempt to burn the Community Church of Chesterland to the ground 鈥� something he admitted in an interview with the FBI, according to an affidavit included with the criminal complaint against him.
During the interview, Penny 鈥� who the affidavit alleged was a member of a neo-Nazi group called White Lives Matter 鈥� said he 鈥渨as trying to protect children and stop the drag show event.鈥�
The church reported the damage early March 25, the affidavit said, telling police there were scorch marks on its front door and on a sign on the building鈥檚 exterior. Another sign on the southeast corner of the property had been damaged, the affidavit said.
Investigators found broken glass pieces from a vodka bottle and a beer bottle, each containing a cloth-type material, per the affidavit. A burnt matchstick and a blue plastic spray bottle filled with gasoline were found near the damaged door.
Investigators received a court order allowing them to collect historical location data from Penny鈥檚 cellphone after receiving a tip, the affidavit said. During a search of his home, authorities found a Nazi flag and memorabilia, a gas mask and gas cans, among other items.
鈥淭his defendant tried to burn down a church simply because its members created space for and provided support to the LGBTQ+ community,鈥� Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in the Justice Department鈥檚 Tuesday release.
鈥淭he Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute such senseless, bias-motivated violence against people exercising their constitutionally protected right to practice their religion and express their beliefs.鈥�
鈥楽tronger as a congregation and community鈥�
The church still went ahead with its events, a and brunch, the following weekend, its minister, Rev. Jess Peacock, previously told CNN, adding it was not the first time the church had been targeted.
While the church wanted Penny to be 鈥減rosecuted to the fullest extent鈥� to discourage attacks on houses of worship, Peacock said the congregation forgave him.
In a Facebook post responding to news of the sentencing Monday, Peacock wrote that Penny鈥檚 actions 鈥渨hile driven by hate and ignorance, compelled hundreds of people and organizations鈥� to reach out offering donations and support, 鈥渆ncouraging us to stand firm in the face of anonymous people who would rather fear difference than live compassionately.鈥�
鈥淵ou wanted to spread fear and hate, but you actually managed to make us stronger as a congregation and as a community,鈥� Peacock wrote. 鈥淓ven if you were successful in burning down our building, you would have still failed. Because it鈥檚 only a building. But we are a community.鈥�
CNN has sought comment from Penny鈥檚 attorney but has not received a response.
CNN鈥檚 Kia Fatahi and Liam Reilly contributed to this report.
The-CNN-Wire
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