Martinez said he was guilty and had no intention of fighting the charges as he “knowingly, intentionally and willingly” burned the flag. Its the same as the whole 'gay pride' thing. 'Pride' is often used as an excuse by deplorable individuals so that they can get away with things that they wouldnt get away with otherwise. My Irish blood, for example, does not make me think I can burn the English flag. “We will continue to strive for a justice system which values restoration over punishment and helps individuals like Adolfo Martinez understand the harm that they’ve caused.” Reyes said that while her organization is appreciative of the seriousness of the crime, it does not see how the long sentence “accomplishes any of those goals.” “That said, true justice should always strive to be about rehabilitation, reconciliation, and healing communities.” “Hate crimes against the LGBTQ community are a serious matter as they inflict distinct emotional harms on their victims, and strike fear into the communities they target,” Courtney Reyes, the executive director of One Iowa, a statewide LGBTQ organization, said. Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds told KCCI since Martinez has a long history of harassment and was also charged as a habitual offender, he faced a harsher penalty. “I believe him to be very dangerous,” Reynolds said. “That’s why my office recommended the maximum sentence.
