CHESTERLAND, Ohio — An Ohio man is facing charges for allegedly attempting to burn down a church in Chesterland, Ohio, which was planning to host two drag shows.
Aimenn Penny, 20, from Alliance, Ohio, has been accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at the Community Church of Chesterland.
According to church representatives, they believe the attack was in response to drag events scheduled for April. Investigators found that several individuals had planned to protest the drag shows, and the church had received hate mail and threatening messages.
FBI agents, officials said, obtained location information for Penny’s phone after obtaining a court order, placing him at the church during the hour authorities say it was vandalized.
The FBI’s Cleveland Field Office received a tip implicating Penny as responsible for the attack. Penny is a member of the Ohio chapter of White Lives Matter, a white suprematist group that has been involved in other protests in Northeast Ohio.
Penny was arrested on Friday and charged with one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device. During a recorded interview following his arrest, Penny allegedly admitted to the crime.
The incident has sparked outrage among members of the LGBTQ+ community and supporters of the church, with many calling for justice and an end to hate crimes against marginalized groups.
