A former Arlington resident has pleaded guilty to painting sexually suggestive pictures and setting fire to a mosque playground last July. According to the indictment against him, 34-year-old Henry Glaspell vandalized the Dar El Eman Islamic Center "because of the race, color and ethnic characteristics of the individuals associated with that property."
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Glaspell faces up to 14 months in prison when sentenced.
According to the court documents, Glaspell's attorney, William Hermesmeyer, filed a motion asking the court to consider Glaspell's attendance at weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, counseling and anger management sessions when Glaspell's sentence is handed down.
Glaspell never knew that he was being videotaped when he committed the offense.
"We have him on videotape painting the graffiti and then setting the fire," Jamal Qaddura, a spokesman for the Tarrant County Muslim community told the Star-Telegram. "He was unaware that we have video cameras at the mosque."
Security cameras caught Glaspell painting sexually suggestive pictures that were labeled "Uncle Sam" and "Allah" and setting fire to the playground equipment, Qaddura said.
Qaddura acknowledged that Glaspell tried to contact mosque members in October to offer restitution and apologize. However, the members refused to meet with him and called police, who issued a criminal trespass warning, Qaddura said.
Qaddura said, the equipment damaged in the incident was valued at about $20,000. The mosque is now surrounded by an 8-foot fence, but parents are still reluctant to take their children to play there.
A spokesperson at the U.S. District Court in Tarrant County said the case has been transferred from Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton's court to Judge Terry Means court. Glaspell sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
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