A veteran who is charged with a hate crime after he decapitated a Satanic statue erected in Iowa’s state capitol has been targeted because of his ‘conservative Christian faith’, his attorney has 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.
Prosecutors in Polk County 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 escalated last week to ‘third-degree criminal mischief in violation of individual rights’, which is a hate crime under Iowa state law.
His attorney, David Yountz, told DailyMail.com he is ‘very concerned’ that the dramatic escalation is because of Cassidy’s ‘conservative Christian faith’.
Michael Cassidy, 36, faces five years in prison after he destroyed a Satanic statue which was installed in Iowa’s state capitol as part of a festive display in December
The statue was brought to the Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa under state rules allowing religious displays in the building during the holidays
Yountz added: ‘I certainly believe that he is being uniquely targeted for this type of enhancement [of the charge].
‘There are many other cases in the state of Iowa and nationwide where individuals have vandalized or destroyed Christian symbols and other religious symbols, some Jewish symbols that have not been charged at all, or not been charged with a hate crime.’
Cassidy’s attorney said the apparent inconsistence was ‘a significant concern’.
‘Initially, he was cited for a misdemeanor, a low level misdemeanor offense related to destruction of property, that would be more consistent. There are many cases where individuals have done something like this and not been charged at all.
‘But those that have been charged – his original charge was fairly consistent with those that have been charged.’
The statue was brought to the Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa under state rules allowing 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 hit with a lesser charge related to the destruction of property but prosecutors escalated it to a hate crime
He was compelled to travel to Iowa after learning about the statue, which was placed in December
A broken remnant of the statue is pictured on the floor of Iowa’s 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 that Cassidy was compelled to travel to Iowa after learning about the statue.
‘He did go there to observe the statue, because he had heard about the controversy. And he wanted to see what could be done, to see if it already had been taken down, or to see if there was a way to have it taken down by the proper authorities,’ the attorney said.
Yountz said that Cassidy dismantled the statue in a ‘very non-disruptive, very quiet manner’, adding: ‘No one would have known it was him had he not cleaned up after himself and turned himself into the authorities.
‘He presents no risk of violence or ill will towards any individual. He didn’t even know who put it up specifically. So if they charged a hate crime, who was it that he was targeting?’
He said that the charges reflect a ‘broader issue in America of people with beliefs like [Cassidy’s] finding themselves being persecuted’.
The figure, depicting the horned deity Baphomet, was erected in December during a ceremony led by a ‘minister of the Satanic Temple’, Mortimer Adramelech (pictured)
Mortimer Adramelech, a minister of The Satanic Temple, also delivered a speech as the statue was placed
Yountz said another example was the decision to charge anti-abortion campaigners over a ‘blockade’ at a clinic in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2021. Six of those protesters were convicted of Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or the FACE Act, on January 31 and now face up to ten years in prison.
‘I fear that Michael’s case is an example of that just on a state level, but is an example of that trend,’ said Yountz.
A fundraiser to cover Cassidy’s legal fees had raised nearly $125,000 by Friday afternoon – more than five times its initial goal of $20,000.
The fundraiser was launched by The Republic Sentinel, a conservative news outlet.
‘Out of the millions of Christians in this nation, Cassidy was the first to act in bravery and conviction,’ a description on the fundraiser reads.
‘He was not willing to see God reviled, especially in a building where lawmakers are supposed to honor Jesus Christ as King and look to his law for wisdom as they legislate with justice and righteousness.’
Prosecutors allege Cassidy destroyed the statue ‘in violation of individual rights’ under Iowa’s hate crime statute.
Lynn Hicks, a spokesman for the Polk County Attorney’s Office, said: ‘Evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victim’s religion.’
The Satanic Temple was founded in 2013 in Salem, Massachusetts-based and says it doesn’t believe in Satan but describes itself as a ‘non-theistic religious organization’ that advocates for secularism.
