A veteran charged with a hate crime after beheading a satanic statue erected at the Iowa State Capitol has been targeted because of his “conservative Christian faith,” his attorney claimed.
Michael Cassidy, 36, faces five years in prison after he destroyed the figure, which was installed as part of a festive display, in December. He said he was “outraged” by the “blasphemous” effigy.
Polk County prosecutors initially charged Cassidy, a flight instructor and former Navy pilot, with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor related to destruction of property.
But the charge was suddenly increased last week to “third-degree criminal mischief in violation of individual rights,” which is a hate crime under Iowa state law.
His lawyer, David Yountz, told DailyMail.com that he is “very concerned” that the dramatic escalation was due to Cassidy’s “conservative Christian faith.”
Michael Cassidy, 36, faces five years in prison after destroying a Satanic statue that was installed at the Iowa State Capitol as part of a holiday display in December.
The statue was brought to the Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa under state rules that allow religious displays in the building during the holidays.
Yountz added: “I certainly think he’s being the sole target of this type of improvement (of the position).
“There are many other cases in the state of Iowa and across the country where people have vandalized or destroyed Christian symbols and other religious symbols, some Jewish symbols that have not been charged at all, or have not been charged. of any hate crime.
Cassidy’s lawyer said the apparent inconsistency was “a significant concern.”
‘Initially, he was cited for a misdemeanor, a low-level misdemeanor related to destruction of property, that would be more consistent. There are many cases where people have done something like this and have not been charged in any way.
“But those who have been charged…their original charge was quite consistent with those who have been charged.”
The statue was brought to the Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa under state rules that allow religious displays in the building during the holidays.
The figure, depicting the horned deity Baphomet, was erected in December during a ceremony led by a “minister of the Satanic Temple,” Mortimer Adramelech.
Cassidy was initially given a misdemeanor charge related to destruction of property, but prosecutors upgraded it to a hate crime.
He was forced to travel to Iowa after learning about the statue, which was placed in December.
A broken remains of the statue is displayed on the ground of the Iowa state capital.
The decision to allow the statue drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, both Republicans.
Yountz said Cassidy was forced to travel to Iowa after learning about the statue.
‘He went there to look at the statue, because he had heard about the controversy. And he wanted to see what could be done, to see if it had already been removed, or to see if there was a way for the proper authorities to remove it,’ the lawyer said.
Yountz said Cassidy dismantled the statue in a “very quiet and undisturbed manner,” adding, “No one would have known it was him if he hadn’t cleaned up after himself and turned himself in to authorities.”
‘It presents no risk of violence or ill will towards any individual. He didn’t even know who had put it specifically. So if he was accused of a hate crime, who was he targeting?
He said the charges reflect a “broader problem in the United States of people with beliefs like (Cassidy’s) finding themselves persecuted.”
The figure, depicting the horned deity Baphomet, was erected in December during a ceremony led by a “Satanic Temple minister”, Mortimer Adramelech (pictured).
Mortimer Adramelech, minister of the Satanic Temple, also gave a speech as the statue was placed.
Yountz said another example was the decision to charge anti-abortion activists for a “blockade” at a clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2021. Six of those protesters were convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, o FACE Law, on January 31 and now faces up to ten years in prison.
“I’m afraid Michael’s case is an example of this only at the state level, but it is an example of that trend,” Yountz said.
A fundraiser to cover Cassidy’s legal fees had raised nearly $125,000 as of Friday afternoon, more than five times its initial goal of $20,000.
The fundraiser was launched by The Republic Sentinel, a conservative media outlet.
“Of the millions of Christians in this nation, Cassidy was the first to act with courage and conviction,” a description of the fundraiser reads.
“I was not willing to see God reviled, especially in a building where legislators are supposed to honor Jesus Christ as King and seek wisdom in his law while legislating with justice and righteousness.”
Prosecutors allege Cassidy destroyed the statue “in violation of individual rights” under Iowa’s hate crimes statute.
Lynn Hicks, spokeswoman for the Polk County Prosecutor’s Office, said, “The evidence shows that the defendant made statements to authorities and the public indicating that he destroyed property because of the victim’s religion.”
The Satanic Temple was founded in 2013 in Salem, Massachusetts, and says it does not believe in Satan, but describes itself as a “non-theistic religious organization” that advocates secularism.