This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

A Muslim who claimed it his was First Amendment right to vandalize a Christian church in Texas has found out that the jury, whose members returned a guilty verdict in his case, disagreed.

The initial ruling in the case that continues involved one defendant, Raunaq Alam, who was convicted of vandalism, according to a report at the Center Square.

He was one of three accused of a vandalism case at the nondenominational Uncommon Church in Euless, in Tarrant County.

The three allegedly spray-painted "[expletive] Israel" and attached other pro-Hamas terrorist stickers on the church building.

They were caught on security cameras.

They originally faced felony criminal mischief counts in the case filed by District Attorney Phil Sorrells, but those later were increased the felony hate crime, which carries a sentence of two to 10 years in prison, the report said.

"It was increased to a hate crime because the perpetrators allegedly targeted a church because of religion, the prosecution argued. The case was also transferred to County Criminal Court No. 9 under Judge Brian Bolton," the report said.

Alam, taken to trial last month, was convicted of criminal mischief, for which he was sentenced to five years of probation, $10,000 in fines and $1,700 in restitution.

His probation includes 180 days in jail.

Alam still faces perjury and drug charges, the report said.

During the fight, which came in the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and amid multiple instances of "unprovoked violence by Muslims" on Christians and Jews in Texas, multiple "pro-Palestinian/Hamas rioters" have argued "their actions are protected by the First Amendment," the report said.

Gov. Greg Abbott has directed Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to arrest suspected offenders.

In the church vandalism case, Afsheen Khan, a co-defendant, was charged with felony criminal mischief. A third defendant, Julia Venzor, testified against Alam and Khan and pleaded guilty, getting five years of probation.