Man accused of vandalizing mosque pleads guilty to charges

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man accused of writing anti-Muslim comments on an Ohio mosque has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of desecrating a place of worship and misdemeanour charges of ethnic intimidation and criminal mischief.

Court records show Todd Williams pleaded guilty Tuesday in Columbus.

The 44-year-old Hilliard man was charged in the vandalism in February at the Ahlul-Bayt Society Islamic Center in suburban Columbus. Prosecutors say security video showed Williams writing comments including “Allah Is A Fraud Dum Dums” on the mosque’s glass doors.

Williams told WBNS-TV at the time of his arrest his actions weren’t driven by hate. He said he wanted “to turn them to the true God.”

Williams is scheduled for sentencing Nov. 20. His attorney hasn’t returned a message seeking comment.

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The Associated Press