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CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A man facing state charges for torching Pride and Ukrainian flags displayed outside Cincinnati homes while people slept inside now faces a multi-count federal indictment.

The Cincinnati Fire Department arrested Thomas Niehaus, 52, after investigating the July 30 fires in Clifton, Clifton Heights and Northside.

These were not random acts of vandalism; they were “targeted, hateful attempts to intimidate and silence members of our community,” Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said when he was indicted in August.

Home security videos captured Niehaus in the act while yelling - and sometimes laughing - and calling the victims homophobic slurs, saying “I hope it burns your f----- house down,” and “f----- q-----, you’re dead..

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