Ohio Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Firebombing Church Hosting Drag Shows
A man in Ohio has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for firebombing a church that was planning to host drag shows. Aimenn D. Penny pleaded guilty to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and malicious use of explosive materials. He admitted to attempting to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland because it planned to support the LGBTQI+ community. Penny was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Ohio Man Sentenced for Firebombing Church
An Alliance, Ohio man who pleaded guilty in October to firebombing a church with Molotov cocktails because the church planned to host drag shows, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars on Monday.
On Oct. 23, 2023, 20-year-old Aimenn D. Penny pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and one count of malicious use of explosive materials. He was originally charged with those two charges as well as using fire to commit a federal felony and possessing a destructive device, though the latter two were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
The charges stem back to March 25, 2023, when Penny made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland in Chesterland, Ohio.
Motivation for the Firebombing
The church had plans to host two drag shows in support of the LGBTQI+ community the following weekend, which angered Penny, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
When Penny arrived at the church, he threw two Molotov cocktails at the place of worship with hopes of burning it to the ground, the DOJ added, attributing the information to court documents.
By pleading guilty, Penny admitted to using fire and explosives with force, and intended to stop members of the church congregation from enjoying and expressing their religious beliefs.
Sentencing and Reactions
Penny had faced up to 20 years in prison for violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, plus a 10-year mandatory prison sentence for using fire to commit a federal felony.
On Monday, a federal judge sentenced Penny to 216 months, or 18 years, in a federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
"This 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," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark also commented, stating that they hope the sentence sends a clear message that hate-fueled attacks against churches will not be tolerated.
