Navy Reserve veteran pleads guilty to beheading Satanic statue in Iowa State Capitol

A Mississippi man, and former Republican congressional candidate, pleaded guilty Friday in connection to the vandalism of a statue of a pagan idol at the Iowa state capitol in exchange for the dropping of a hate crime charge. 

Michael Cassidy pleaded guilty to an aggravated misdemeanor count of third-degree criminal mischief, the Des Moines Register reported. He was slated to go to trial on June 3. 

"As you’re likely aware, we have continually contested the hate crime and questioned whether Mr.