Mr. Johnson was arrested for violating Texas law by desecrating a venerated object. The case ended up in court in the state of Texas and Johnson was convicted. “The only crime he was charged with was desecration of a venerated object in violation of the Texas Penal Code Ann. § 42.09(a)(3) (1989). [n1] After a trial, he was found guilty, sentenced to one year in prison and fined $2,000.” Johnson then appealed to the Supreme Court arguing that his actions were protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution as free speech. The Supreme Court agreed to hear this case and did so in March 21,