Murfreesboro Men Indicted for Islamic Center Vandalism

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A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennessee, yesterday, returned an indictment charging two Murfreesboro men, Charles Dwight Stout, III, 19, and Thomas Avery Gibbs, 18, with conspiring to commit a civil rights violation and committing a civil rights violation through damaging and defacing the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro.

The indictment alleges the two men vandalized the center by placing bacon, a pork product forbidden by Islam, around the entrance. Along with spray painting profane references regarding Allah, all while concealing their identities with mask. Charles Stout wore a World War II-era Nazi gas mask during the events.

Stout was also charged with obstructing a federal investigation by permanently deleting photos he took with his phone during the vandalism.

If convicted, both men face up to a year in prison. An indictment is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.