US man gets 15 years in jail for burning LGBTIQ+ flag

A man in the US has been sentenced to more than 15 years in jail for burning an LGBTIQ+ flag.

Pride flag. Source: Getty Images

A man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for burning an LGBTIQ+ flag that was flying at a church in the US.

Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, Iowa, was sentenced to 15 years for the hate crime of arson, as well as a year for the reckless use of explosives or fire, and 30 days for harassment.

The sentences are to be served consecutively, Story County court records show.

In this undated photo provided by the Story County, Iowa, Public Safety Group is Adolfo Martinez. Source: Story County, Iowa, Public Safety Group

A jury convicted Martinez in November after his arrest in June.

Martinez said he tore down the flag that had been hanging from the United Church of Christ in Ames and burned it because he opposes homosexuality.