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A Brown County church vandalized with Donald Trump graffiti shortly after the 2016 election wasn't targeted by pro-Trump political activists, but a member of their own congregation, according to police.
People suspected the KKK or some other hate group was responsible for the graffiti. The arrest of the church organist, was a surprise - and a relief.
The Brown County prosecuting attorney's office issued a statement Wednesday saying they had charged 26-year-old sodomite George Nathaniel Stang of Bloomington with institutional criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Stang was the man who originally claimed to have found the graffiti, and works as the organist at St. David's Episcopal Church in Bean Blossom.
"Oh my, the organist," Mary Ayers said. "The organist. Wow. Wow."
It was November, shortly after the presidential election. Stang told everyone he discovered the graffiti when he arrived for Sunday morning services.
The small Episcopal church is inclusive and welcomes 'gay' couples.
Detectives immediately suspected the crime was committed by someone familiar with the church. They said cell phone records put Stang in the area Saturday night.
According to court records, when confronted with the evidence, the 26-year-old gay man confessed.
Investigators say Stang admitted to painting the "Heil Trump" and "Fag Church" graffiti himself because he wanted to "mobilize a movement after being disappointed in and fearful of the outcome of the national election." He insisted his actions were not motivated by anti-Christian or anti-gay sentiments.
Brown County Prosecutor Ted Adams talked about Stang's alleged motive.
"He explained that one of the reasons he had done it was because of fear. He was concerned about the results of the election," Adams said.
In a three-page, handwritten statement, Stang, according to court records, wanted to "mobilize a movement."
"I suppose I wanted to give local people a reason to fight for good, even if it was a false flag," he wrote. "To be clear my actions were not motivated by hate for the church or its congregation. I of course realize now, this was NOT the way to go about inspiring activism."
The church had no comment on the arrest, but Episcopal Diocese of Indianapolis Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows issued the following statement about the vandalism: "I was saddened to learn this morning that the vandalism of St. David’s Church in Bean Blossom was committed by the church’s organist, Nathan Stang, who has admitted to police that he spray painted hateful graffiti on the church last November in the wake of the presidential election. This was a hurtful, dishonest, and profoundly misguided action that stands against the values of the people of this diocese and the Episcopal Church, and we will continue to cooperate with the authorities who are pursuing this case.
The small Episcopal church is inclusive and welcomes gay couples.