Hate crime charges filed against Indiana man - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Hate crime charges filed against Indiana man

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It's a crime that rocked the community. The Islamic center of greater Toledo set on fire.      
The Feds take over the case and file hate crime charges.

52 year old Randolph Linn is charged with damage to religious property and using fire and explosives to commit the crime. Linn is now in the custody of federal agents

Randolph Linn is now charged with federal hate crimes for allegedly trying to burn down the Islamic center. According a criminal complaint Linn traveled from Indiana to the Islamic Center with a plastic container that contained gasoline.  It claims Linn placed it in the worship center on the second floor. Wood county prosecutor Paul Dobson calls it terrorism.  

"We're just not going to stand for that we haven't stood by it in the past. I have prosecuted on behalf of the Islamic center in the past for even threats and to have somebody come in and take these kind of very overt painful actions the entire community should be incensed and I believe that they are," said Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson.

Investigators say they were able to piece the case together after Linn was caught on surveillance video at the mosque. The complaint says he was seen on camera walking around the center carrying what appeared to be a gun and a gas can. Court documents state Linn set the center on fire because of the international muslims community's reaction to the recent anti-muslim video on Youtube.
     
Linn allegedly complained that muslims in this country get a "free pass."

Today muslims from all walks of life gathered at the center to pray for justice    

"They should know that although we are not standing there with them now that all of our prayers are with them," said U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach.  

Federal agents searched the 52 year old mans home in Indiana. They found a camouflage sweatshirt and cap which appeared to match the clothing Linn was seen wearing in this video     
Court documents also state a woman recognized Linn's clothing in a picture and called police.
 
The U.S. Attorney says if Linn is convicted of these crimes he could face up to 30 years in prison.  
  

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