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Independence Teen Accused of Burning American flag

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Oct 26, 2006 at 11:24 AM CST

Story Updated: Oct 26, 2006 at 1:05 PM CST

AP - A northeast Iowa teenager accused of burning an American flag is charged with second-degree arson and desecration of a flag under the state's flag desecration law.

Maryann Beck, 15, of Independence is accused of setting the flag on fire at the local VFW hall Tuesday night.

Police Chief Douglas Rasmussen says it was “a pure act of vandalism”. He says flag was on a flag pole outside the hall when it was set on fire.

Iowa law makes it illegal to publicly mutilate, deface, defile or defy the American flag.

Rasmussen says Beck was charged as a juvenile and she was turned over to her parents.

He declined to comment on a possible motive.

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