Background: Video shows someone walking away after lighting a flag on fire (Ring/WXIX/YouTube). Inset: Thomas Niehaus (Butler County Sheriff's Office).
An Ohio man is accused of setting flags ablaze at Cincinnati homes, with videos capturing his pleasure in his illicit deeds and saying at one point, "I hope it burns your f— house down," authorities say.
Thomas Niehaus, 52, faces seven counts of aggravated arson and three counts of arson,Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced earlier this year. Now, the suspect also faces a multi-count federal indictment for his alleged actions.
It was July 30, of this year when Niehaus "targeted the homes of people displaying Pride flags" and other decorations, Pillich said.
The defendant allegedly roamed around Cincinnati in the neighborhoods of Clifton and Northside looking for targets, at one point setting fire to a "yard sign with a picture of a Ukrainian flag."
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"I am deeply disturbed and outraged by these arsons," Pillich said while announcing the indictment. "These were not acts of random vandalism. They were targeted, hateful attempts to intimidate and silence members of our community."
"Everyone deserves to feel safe and seen in their own neighborhoods," she added. "We will not tolerate hate in any form, and we stand firmly with our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, so they know they are supported, valued, and protected."
In October, Niehaus was federally indicted.
The faces one count of malicious use of fire, according to local Fox affiliate WXIX. Home security videos allegedly captured the defendant setting the fires, yelling, and in some cases laughing, saying homophobic slurs and "I hope it burns your f— house down," as well as, "you're dead…kill them all."
Niehaus allegedly used a tiki torch and tiki torch fuel to burn the flags while drunk and was "full of rage," wanting to "send them a message by burning the flags," according to court records. He is also said to have written a statement "admitting to setting the fires, claiming that after hearing from his 'friend' he felt he 'absolutely had to do something.'
Authorities stressed how the smaller fires could have caused house fires, due to the proximity of the flags to the homes and the possibility of wind playing a role. Several of the victims were also elderly.
In August, when he was arraigned on multiple state charges, Niehaus had to be escorted from the courtroom after shouting, "Fighting for the children!" WXIX reported. He remains detained in the Butler County Jail on a federal hold.
