CINCINNATI (AP) — A 52-year-old Ohio man has pleaded guilty in federal court after he was captured on video burning Pride flags outside homes while shouting anti-gay slurs, authorities said.
The man, identified as Thomas Niehaus, admitted to setting fire to multiple Pride flags and at least one Ukrainian flag in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood, according to court records and local reports.
Investigators said several of the incidents occurred at private residences, where flags had been displayed on porches. At least one episode was recorded on surveillance video, which showed a man approaching a home, igniting a Pride flag and making threatening and derogatory remarks, including the use of homophobic slurs.
Authorities said the fires posed a significant risk beyond property damage. In one case, a homeowner reported discovering the burned flag hours later and noted the blaze could have spread to the house, raising concerns about potential injury or loss of life.
Niehaus was initially arrested in 2025 following an investigation by the Cincinnati Fire Investigation Unit. Prosecutors later charged him in connection with multiple incidents, describing the acts as intentional and targeting symbols associated with LGBTQ+ identity and support.
Federal officials have treated similar cases as potential hate crimes when evidence shows actions were motivated by bias against a protected group. Niehaus’s guilty plea brings the case closer to sentencing, where he could face significant prison time.
The incidents drew concern from residents and advocacy groups, who said the attacks contributed to fear within the community and highlighted ongoing risks tied to anti-LGBTQ+ hostility.
