Man charged with hate crime for damaging Iowa Capitol satanic display

DES MOINES — A former congressional candidate from Mississippi who admitted to destroying a statue as part of a display at the Iowa Capitol by the Satanic Temple of Iowa has been charged with a hate crime.

Michael Cassidy, 36, from Lauderdale, Miss., initially was charged in December with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a serious misdemeanor. The charge carried a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $2,560 fine.

Cassidy, a Christian and former military officer, said in an interview with The Republic Sentinel that he tore down and beheaded a statue of Baphomet, a ram-headed figure often used to represent Satan, that was part of an altar erected inside the Capitol.

“I saw this blasphemous statue and was outraged,” Cassidy told the conservative website. “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.”

The Satanic Temple of Iowa issued a statement on Facebook saying its display had been “destroyed beyond repair.”

Court records show the Polk County Attorney’s Office now is accusing Cassidy of a more serious crime. A charging document filed Friday and made public Tuesday charges Cassidy with felony third-degree criminal mischief committed "in violation of individual rights" under Iowa's hate crime statute.

Trial information filed by the Polk County Attorney’s office states Cassidy “intentionally damaged, defaced, altered, or destroyed the property belonging to The Satanic Temple, to-wit: a Baphomet Altar, the cost of replacing, restoring, or repairing of which exceeds $750 but less than $1,500, and furthermore, this act was done in violation of individual rights as set forth in Iowa Code section 729A.2.”

Cassidy's attorney, Sara Pasquale, declined to comment Wednesday on the new charge.

The Satanic Temple has filed a damage estimate putting the cost to replace the statute at $3,000. The group is also requesting $3,299.55 in restitution for “travel and security expenses” for “food, lodging, van rental, communications equipment and bullet proof vests that were a necessity in completing the task of removing our holiday display at the state capitol.”

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Glinda Vyn Cooley, a minister and congregation head for the organization, states in the court filing members felt the necessity to wear bullet proof vests due to online threats and public statements made by Cassidy.

“We took a team of eight people in order to ensure safety when traveling to and from the capitol building,” Cooley wrote. “By the time our display was due to be removed, due to the defendant's statements on social and televised media, members of our congregation had been physically threatened online. We feel it is the defendant's responsibility to compensate us for expenses that we would not have incurred during a typical course of activity.”

A hearing is scheduled for Feb. 7 in Polk County District Court to hear objections filed by Cassidy’s attorney over victim impact statements and statement of pecuniary damages filed by the Satanic Temple.

The display, which was permitted for two weeks under state rules that permit religious installations, has sparked outrage and national debate and calls from Republicans for its removal. Others have argued the display is religious expression protected by the First Amendment.

The installation drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Gov. Kim Reynolds and then-Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Cassidy has raised nearly $90,000 for his legal defense, according to crowdfunding site GiveSendGo. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 15, according to court records.

Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com