Tempe mosque case against 2 women moves forward to October trial

PHOENIX – Two Phoenix-area women who recorded themselves taking things from a Tempe mosque while using hate speech face a fall trial.

Elizabeth Dauenhauer and Tahnee Gonzales were charged with burglarizing and damaging the Islamic Community Center in March. Their trial in Maricopa County Superior Court has been scheduled to begin Oct. 4.

The women pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted they would face a maximum sentence of four years in prison. They and three children walked into a fenced-in courtyard.

Dauenhauer, 51, and Gonzales, 32, livestreamed themselves as they pulled fliers, posters and Qurans from shelves, bins and bulletin boards at the Muslim house of worship near Sixth Street and Mill Avenue.

They also called Muslims devil worshippers and compared them to animals. The video, posted to Gonzales’ social media account, lasted 20 minutes and was eventually taken offline.

Tempe police said after the arrests sentencing could be enhanced if the women were seen as perpetrating a hate crime.

Their attorney cited the anti-Muslim comments Gonzales and Dauenhauer were heard making as free speech.

In July, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said it was interested in “settlement negotiations including all parties.”

A spokeswoman for the mosque said, “We are open to offering an informational and educational session to these two women, their children, and the community at large.”

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