Aimenn Penny, who authorities say is a member of the racist neo-Nazi organization White Lives Matter, Ohio, is charged in federal court with attempting to burn down Community Church of Chesterland that is set to host a drag-queen story hour this weekend. This photo, which was included in court records, was taken at a March 11 protest outside a similar event in Wadsworth, records say.FBI By Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio — A neo-Nazi who hurled Molotov cocktails at a Geauga County church because it hosted drag-queen story hour and other events pleaded guilty Monday to a federal hate crime charge. Aimenn Penny, 20, entered the pleas in federal court in Cleveland to obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs and arson. Penny faces between 14 years and three months in prison and 15 years and three months when U.S. District Judge Bridget Brennan sentences him on Jan. 29. Prosecutors and Penny’s defense attorney, John Greven, are allowed to argue for more or less time, but Brennan must sentence Penny to at least 10 years in prison. Greven declined comment after the hearing. Penny’s March 25 firebombing took place amid a spike of white-supremacist activity in Ohio, including sharp increases in gatherings of hate groups and recruitment efforts in recent years.
via cleveland: Neo-Nazi admits to hate crime for hurling Molotov cocktails at Geauga County church hosting drag events