On Friday, a Navy Veteran and former Republican congressional candidate from Mississippi pleaded guilty to charges relating to the destruction of a Satanic statue at the Iowa state capitol, on the condition that a hate crime charge against him was dropped.
The Des Moines Register reported that Michael Cassidy pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Cassidy was initially scheduled for a trial starting on June 3.
“As you’re likely aware, we have continually contested the hate crime and questioned whether Mr. Cassidy was being targeted due to his religious beliefs,” Sara Pasquale, Cassidy’s attorney, told Fox News. “We are therefore very pleased that the state ultimately decided to drop the hate crime and are hopeful that this case will bring awareness to similar situations throughout the country.”
Cassidy confessed that he “partially dismantled a display” in the Iowa State Capitol Building, “without a right/license to do so.” The statue was of the Satanic deity Baphomet, displayed as a man with the head of a goat, and was brought to the state capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa, who were taking advantage of a state rule that allows religious displays of all faiths in public buildings during holidays.
“I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged,” Cassidy told The Sentinel in December. “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”
The Satanic temple alleged that the statue was destroyed “beyond repair.”
“This morning, we were informed by authorities that the Baphomet statue in our holiday display was destroyed beyond repair. We are proud to continue our holiday display for the next few days that we have been allotted,” they said in a statement at the time. “We ask that for safety, visitors travel together and use the 7 Tenets as a reminder for empathy, in the knowledge that justice is being pursued the correct way, through legal means. Solve et Coagula! Happy Holidays! Hail Satan!”
The idol was received with anger by state and national leaders, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (R)
Cassidy’s plea agreement stipulates that he will receive a deferred judgment with two years probation, an $855 penalty, as well as restitution in an uncertain amount which will be determined later.
According to WTOK-TV, Cassidy raised more than $134,000 for his defense via the Christian fundraising site GiveSendGo. Supporters say he acted with “bravery and conviction. 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.”
Pasquale admitted that she was unsure why prosecutors decided to drop the hate crime charge, but said, “We are simply thankful that Mr. Cassidy no longer faces a hate crime and hopeful that similar, offensive displays will be rejected from places such as state capitol buildings in the future.”
Lynn Hicks, a spokesperson for the Polk County Attorney’s Office, said that the details of the plea agreement were dependent on several factors.
“Factors can include but are not limited to: taking full accountability for the criminal conduct, cooperation with law enforcement, the availability of evidence, and the defendant’s lack of criminal history,” Hicks told Fox News. “The agreement included restitution, which can make the victims financially whole, and a victim-offender dialogue, during which the victims will have the opportunity to speak directly with the defendant about what he did and how it affected them.”
