White Lives Matter Member Sentenced to 18 Years for Attempted Church Arson

Aimenn Penny targeted the Ohio church due to its support for the LGBTQ+ community and planned drag event.

Aimenn Penny, a 20-year-old member of the extremist White Lives Matter group, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland in Ohio, which was planning to host a drag event.
Penny was arrested after he made and threw Molotov cocktails at the church, intending to burn it to the ground due to its support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Authorities found an assault rifle, three handguns, a shotgun, ammunition, a tactical vest, a shield, three knives in sheaths and Nazi memorabilia during a subsequent search of Penny’s vehicle and residence.
Penny showed no remorse during an interview with the FBI, stating that he wished the Molotov cocktails 'were more effective and burned the entire church to the ground.'
While in jail, Penny wrote letters and a 'manifesto' in which he showed pride in his actions and even claimed that he was 'respected for it' in jail. He also attempted to send letters to members of the Blood Tribe, a neo-Nazi group, urging violence against an upcoming drag event in Akron, Ohio.