'But 12 people that I don't know, who have no investment in me or this congregation, said this man committed a crime, and it was crime born of bigotry and hatred.' 'I often experienced Ames as not being as progressive as many people believe it is, and there still is a very large closeted queer community here,' Gebbie explained. Gebbie told the Des Moines Register that she was pleased that a jury found Martinez guilty because she doesn’t believe Ames is welcoming to gay people. Eileen Gebbie, the senior minister at United Church of Christ who happens to be gay herself, said, “It doesn’t feel good. Martinez pleaded not guilty despite saying he had no plans to fight the charges and claiming, “I’m guilty. “It is a judgment, and it is written to execute vengeance on the heathen and punishments upon the people.” It was a blessing from the Lord,” Martinez said. When he committed the crimes in June, he told KCCI that he did it because he despises homosexuality. Martinez, who has two other felonies, received the maximum sentence of 16 years for his crimes because he was a habitual offender.
