Arizona women charged with burglary at Tempe mosque face September trial
May 14, 2018, 6:45 AM | Updated: 8:45 am
Tahnee Gonzales, left, and Elizabeth Dauenhauer (Tempe Police Department Photos)
(Tempe Police Department Photos)
PHOENIX — Two women who recorded themselves using hate speech and taking flyers and pamphlets from a Tempe mosque will stand trial in early September if they don’t accept a plea deal.
Tahnee Gonzales and Elizabeth Dauenhauer were arrested March 15 and indicted a week later. They pleaded not guilty March 28.
They were charged with third-degree burglary and aggravated criminal damage for going into the Islamic Community Center of Tempe.
If convicted, they would face maximum sentences of four years in prison.
Gonzales was also charged with three counts of endangering the life and health of a minor.
The women livestreamed themselves and three children from one of Gonzales’ social media accounts as they took handbills and Qurans and pulled down posters at the mosque near Sixth Street an Mill Avenue.
They also insulted Muslims, calling them “devil-Satan worshippers” who “hate America.”
The video lasted around 20 minutes.
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The video showed Gonzales, 32, and Dauenhauer, 51, and the children walk past a gate that had a sign that read “No trespassing.” The group made its way into the mosque’s courtyard.
Gonzales’ attorney said in March that his client had been exercising her right to free speech and what she said was protected by the First Amendment.
The trial date was set for Sept. 4.
Pretrial conferences had been set for May 11, June 12 and Aug. 28.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
