Ohio Man Who Attacked Church With Cocktails Over Drag Show Events Charged

A 20-year-old man used Molotov cocktails to try to burn down a church after it made plans to hold drag show events. Now he has been charged with federal crimes.

The incident happened on Mar. 25 when Aimenn D. Penny of Alliance, Ohio threw the drinks at the Community Church of Chesterland in Chesterland, Ohio, reported ABC News.

Prosecutors alleged that in the early morning hours of Mar. 25, he tossed the cocktails at the church with the intent to burn the structure, as per Law & Crime.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice (DOJ), he tried to burn down the church after learning that it church was holding drag show events in the following weekend.

The suspect was initially arrested and charged with federal offenses on Mar. 31. But the DOJ formally announced the charges that he would be facing on Monday.

The DOJ said that a federal indictment was returned charging the young man with a "violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act" for using the cocktails against the church. Penny was also indicted on one count of using fire to commit a "federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device."

Officials said that he could face a lengthy prison sentence.

The DOJ shared that if he is convicted, he faces a "maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for the violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act." For using the explosive materials, he also faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in jail.

Penny was interviewed by cops last October after he handed out racist flyers. He told authorities that he believed African-Americans were a "problem." He said that there was a civil war coming between different races.

According to an affidavit, a handwritten manifesto and a Nazi flag were found during a search of his house by cops.

The affidavit said that he was trying to protect kids and stop the events planned by the church.

He told cops that he got very angry after watching videos of news feeds and drag shows in France on the internet. Then he decided to attack the church.