Michael Cassidy, a 35-year-old Navy Reserve instructor pilot and self-styled "America First Conservative," has been charged with 4th-degree criminal mischief after allegedly tearing down and beheading a satanist statue that was on display at the Iowa State Capitol.

The display, made by the Satanic Temple Iowa, who said they were exercising their right to religious freedom, had already attracted significant controversy with a Christian group holding a prayer group on Wednesday in protest. It featured a human sized statue of Baphomet, a horned demon adopted for worship by some satanists, with a row of lit candles placed in front. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds urged Iowa residents to join her in "praying over the Capitol" in response to the "absolutely objectionable" display being installed.

After Thursday's incident a crowdfunding campaign was launched for Cassidy's legal fund, which raised $20,000 before being suspended upon hitting its target. Prominent donors included conservative campaign group Turning Point USA and The Daily Wire writer and documentary maker Matt Walsh, who gave $10,000 and $1,000 respectively.