Jason Clayworth is an investigative reporter at the Des Moines Register. Court records reviewed by the Register do not indicate that he has filed any further motions linked to his representation in the case. Flag desecration is the desecration of a flag, violation of flag protocol, or various acts that intentionally destroy, damage, or mutilate a flag in public. He did not respond to a request for comment. Martinez is currently being held at the Iowa Medical & Classification Center correctional facility in Coralville. She said she believes Martinez was ultimately satisfied with his legal representation. Marcucci said the case was assigned to her before the hate crime enhancement and before her supervisors were aware the case involved issues pertaining to sexuality. Had he ordered the sentences to run concurrently, the incarceration would have totaled 15 years, a slight reduction. He did, however, order Martinez to serve the sentences consecutively. Van Marel under state sentencing law had little leeway when determining Martinez's penalty. “I think it’s a very interesting issue in that the First Amendment right to freedom of expression covers things like burning the American flag, but burning the rainbow flag is something that was criminalized,” Marcucci told the Register this month.
