A Mississippi man who made national headlines for tearing down and beheading a Satanic display in the Iowa State Capitol is now being charged with a hate crime.
Michael Cassidy, who told CBN News last month he felt the destruction of the display was the “right thing to do,” was at first charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.
But, as KCCI-TV reported, court documents found he was also allegedly guilty of committing an act under Iowa’s hate crime statute that is “in violation of individual rights.”
The outlet reported the legal claim against Cassidy is now a third-degree criminal mischief charge, known as a class D felony; he will be arraigned Feb. 15.
“Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim’s religion,” Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorney’s Office, said in a statement.