Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Ex-Marine Gets 9 Years in Prison for Firebombing California Planned Parenthood Clinic
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 10 months ago on
April 16, 2024

Chance Brannon, a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, and Tibet Ergul of Irvine have pleaded guilty to being the two masked individuals who threw a Molotov cocktail igniting a blaze at a Costa Mesa Planned Parenthood in 2022. (U.S Department of Justice)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA ANA — A former U.S. Marine was sentenced Monday to nine years in prison for firebombing a Southern California Planned Parenthood clinic in 2022, federal prosecutors prosecutors said.

Chance Brannon, 24, pleaded guilty in November to four felony counts, including malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives and intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility,

Brannon, of San Juan Capistrano, California, also admitted that he made plans for additional attacks on a second Planned Parenthood clinic, a Southern California Edison substation, and an LGBTQ pride night celebration at Dodger Stadium, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Brannon was an active-duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton at the time of the bombing at the clinic in Costa Mesa on March 13, 2022. Surveillance footage showed Brannon and Tibet Ergul of Irvine throwing a Molotov cocktail at the front door of the medical facility. The clinic was closed at the time and no one was injured.

During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney said Brannon “engaged in cruel and indefensible domestic terrorism.”

He has been in federal custody since his arrest in June 2023.

Brannon conspired with two others to use an explosive device to destroy a commercial property, according to his plea agreement.

His co-defendants, Ergul and Xavier Batten, have pleaded guilty to the charges against them. They are scheduled to be sentenced in May.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Red, White, and Blueland? GOP Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename Greenland

DON'T MISS

White House Bars AP Reporter From Oval Office Because of AP Style Policy on ‘Gulf of America’

DON'T MISS

Trump Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Likely to Drive up Car Costs, Industry Leaders Say

DON'T MISS

After Criminal Case Tossed, Madec Fights to Get Fresno CC Classroom Job Back

DON'T MISS

Atmospheric River Stays on Track to Soak Fresno With Rain

DON'T MISS

Blood Center Picks Long-Time Industry Leader as New CEO

DON'T MISS

Californians Picked Up in Recent ICE Raids Include Kids and Volunteers

DON'T MISS

Denmark Wants to Buy California? Online Petition Hits 200,000 Signatures

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Kills Pedestrian. Driver Cooperates With Police.

DON'T MISS

Can a Joint Fresno Committee Allay Immigration Fears? These Leaders Want to Try

UP NEXT

White House Bars AP Reporter From Oval Office Because of AP Style Policy on ‘Gulf of America’

UP NEXT

Trump Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Likely to Drive up Car Costs, Industry Leaders Say

UP NEXT

After Criminal Case Tossed, Madec Fights to Get Fresno CC Classroom Job Back

UP NEXT

Atmospheric River Stays on Track to Soak Fresno With Rain

UP NEXT

Blood Center Picks Long-Time Industry Leader as New CEO

UP NEXT

Californians Picked Up in Recent ICE Raids Include Kids and Volunteers

UP NEXT

Denmark Wants to Buy California? Online Petition Hits 200,000 Signatures

UP NEXT

Fresno Crash Kills Pedestrian. Driver Cooperates With Police.

UP NEXT

Can a Joint Fresno Committee Allay Immigration Fears? These Leaders Want to Try

UP NEXT

Will ‘Too Many Cooks’ Complicate LA’s Recovery From Deadly Fires?

After Criminal Case Tossed, Madec Fights to Get Fresno CC Classroom Job Back

1 hour ago

Atmospheric River Stays on Track to Soak Fresno With Rain

2 hours ago

Blood Center Picks Long-Time Industry Leader as New CEO

3 hours ago

Californians Picked Up in Recent ICE Raids Include Kids and Volunteers

3 hours ago

Denmark Wants to Buy California? Online Petition Hits 200,000 Signatures

5 hours ago

Fresno Crash Kills Pedestrian. Driver Cooperates With Police.

5 hours ago

Can a Joint Fresno Committee Allay Immigration Fears? These Leaders Want to Try

5 hours ago

Will ‘Too Many Cooks’ Complicate LA’s Recovery From Deadly Fires?

5 hours ago

Russia Has Released Detained American Teacher Marc Fogel, the White House Says

6 hours ago

How Many People Watched This Year’s Super Bowl?

6 hours ago

Red, White, and Blueland? GOP Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename Greenland

A Republican congressman from Georgia has introduced a bill to rename Greenland as President Donald Trump continues efforts to acquire the i...

47 minutes ago

47 minutes ago

Red, White, and Blueland? GOP Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename Greenland

Elon Musk listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Alex Brandon)
1 hour ago

White House Bars AP Reporter From Oval Office Because of AP Style Policy on ‘Gulf of America’

An employee works on the production line at the Martinrea auto parts manufacturing plant that supplies auto parts to Canada and U.S. plants, in Woodbridge, Ontario, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. (AP File)
1 hour ago

Trump Steel, Aluminum Tariffs Likely to Drive up Car Costs, Industry Leaders Say

1 hour ago

After Criminal Case Tossed, Madec Fights to Get Fresno CC Classroom Job Back

photo of a rainbow colored umbrella
2 hours ago

Atmospheric River Stays on Track to Soak Fresno With Rain

3 hours ago

Blood Center Picks Long-Time Industry Leader as New CEO

3 hours ago

Californians Picked Up in Recent ICE Raids Include Kids and Volunteers

A satirical petition calling for Denmark to buy California for $1 trillion has surpassed 200,000 signatures, citing President Trump's past criticisms of the state. (Shutterstock)
5 hours ago

Denmark Wants to Buy California? Online Petition Hits 200,000 Signatures

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend