Liberal Atheists Charged With Christmas Hate Crime
Panhandle Couple Charged With Christmas Hate Crime
The Associated Press Published: Dec 28, 2001
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) - A young couple was charged with
defacing a church with satanic graffiti and slashing the tires
of its van on Christmas Eve.
"They put a fear in some of our people," church member Charles
Riley said Thursday. "It makes you feel kind of insecure."
Sara Michelle Little, 20, of Youngstown, and Daniel S.
Lamoureux, 17, of Panama City, were arrested Wednesday and
charged with hate crime criminal mischief. The couple said they
were atheists, according to police.
Bay County sheriff's deputies said they confessed to
vandalizing the van and Bayou George Calvary Temple Assembly of
God in an unincorporated area north of Panama City.
The church spent $500 putting new tires on the van because the
old ones also had been slashed and satanic messages written on
the vehicle with ketchup three weeks ago. The tires will have
to be replaced again, said Riley, who serves on the church's
board of directors.
The suspects also are accused of using a marking pen to write
"666," "devil rules," "Lucifer" and similar statements on the
church and van.
"It's like Satan worshippers," Riley said. "Upside-down crosses
on the van and sayings of satanic influence. It looks like they
were just trying to get their message out."
Deputies said the couple told them they hoped churchgoers would
see what they had done on Christmas Day, but no services were
scheduled then, Riley said.
Making the charges a hate crime added at least two years to the
maximum possible sentence.
The pair were spotted sitting near the church by a patrolling
deputy who questioned them. Lamoureux was turned over to the
Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
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