Man convicted in 2022 firebombing of Planned Parenthood clinic

Lina PortmanJune 1, 2024

0 6 minutes read

The third of three defendants convicted in the 2022 firebombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Southern California – a 22-year-old Irvine man – was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison, it was announced the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. video above: The State of Abortion Access Explained Tibet Ergul and his co-defendant Chance Brannon used a Molotov cocktail in March 2022 to damage a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, a city in Orange County , California, because she provided reproductive health services, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a press release. Another man, Xavier Batten, was recently convicted for allegedly advising the two men on how to use the Molotov cocktail. “This defendant’s hatred of others led him to plot and commit violence,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “We will not allow fanatical intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute hate crimes to keep our community safe. Another point was that Ergul sent Brannon a letter saying, “The rifle is in a box in my room waiting to be used in the next race war,” according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. And during the summer of 2023, Ergul and Brannon discussed and studied how to attack the parking lot or electrical room at Dodger Stadium on a night celebrating LGBTQ pride, including using a device that could be detonated remotely, said Ergul in his plea agreement. pleaded guilty Feb. 29 to one count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, the release said. In addition to the prison sentence, Ergul is also required to pay $1,000 in restitution. Ergul's attorney, Sheila Mojtehedi, said in an email to CNN that her client “appreciates the government and the Court's consideration.” » “He can't wait to close this chapter and move on with his life,” Mojtehedi said. Ergul chose violence and destruction while targeting a wide range of innocent victims with whom he ideologically disagreed, putting their lives in danger,” said Amir Ehsaei, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. Angeles, in a press release. “Will prevent further acts of violence by Mr. Ergul,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Battaglia of the NCIS Marine West Field Office. to make a statement about abortion, dissuade pregnant women from having abortions, dissuade doctors, staff and clinic employees from performing abortions, and intimidate clinic patients,” the statement said. They allegedly assembled the Molotov cocktail in Ergul's garage on March 12, 2022. On the morning of March 13, disguised in dark clothing, masks, hoods and gloves, the two men allegedly lit the Molotov cocktail and threw it at the entrance to the clinic, starting a fire. Due to the damage, the clinic was forced to temporarily close and reschedule approximately 30 patient appointments, according to the release. Ergul said in his plea agreement that in June 2022 – following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – he and Brannon planned to use a second Molotov cocktail to attack another Planned Parenthood clinic, but abandoned the plan after seeing law enforcement near the clinic, according to the district attorney's office. Ergul has been in federal custody since June 2023 and was the last defendant to be sentenced in the case. Last month, Brannon was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of conspiracy, one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives, one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of intentionally damaging an establishment of reproductive health services in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. On May 13, Batten, 21, of Florida, was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison for advising Ergul and Brannon on how to make the Molotov cocktail used in the Planned Parenthood attack. He pleaded guilty Jan. 19 to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of willful damage to a reproductive health service facility.

COSTA MESA, California —

Related video above: The State of Abortion Access Explained

Tibet Ergul and his co-defendant Chance Brannon used a Molotov cocktail in March 2022 to damage a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, a city in Orange County, California, because it provided reproductive health services, a the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a press release. Another man, Xavier Batten, was recently convicted for allegedly advising the two men on how to use the Molotov cocktail.

“This defendant’s hatred of others led him to plot and commit acts of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “We will not allow fanatical intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute hate crimes to keep our community safe.

They also planned to attack an electrical substation with guns or a Molotov cocktail “to weaken Orange County's power grid,” the statement said.

At another time, Ergul had sent Brannon a letter saying, “The rifle is in a box in my room waiting to be used in the next race war,” according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. And during the summer of 2023, Ergul and Brannon discussed and studied how to attack the parking lot or electrical room at Dodger Stadium on a night celebrating LGBTQ pride, including using a device that could be detonated remotely, said Ergul in his plea agreement.

Ergul pleaded guilty Feb. 29 to one count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, the release said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ergul must also pay $1,000 in restitution.

Ergul's lawyer, Sheila Mojtehedi, said in an email to CNN that her client “appreciates the consideration of the government and the Court.”

“He’s looking forward to closing this chapter and moving on with his life,” Mojtehedi said.

“Mr. Ergul chose violence and destruction while targeting a wide range of innocent victims with whom he disagreed ideologically, putting their lives in danger,” said Amir Ehsaei, acting deputy director in charge of the country's field office. FBI in Los Angeles, in a press release.

The sentence “will prevent further acts of violence by Mr. Ergul,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Battaglia of the NCIS Marine West field office.

How the alleged firebombing happened

Ergul and Brannon, who at the time was an active-duty U.S. Marine, “wanted to make a statement on abortion, to dissuade pregnant women from having abortions, to dissuade doctors, staff and clinic employees from performing abortions and intimidating authorities. patients of the clinic,” the statement said.

They allegedly assembled the Molotov cocktail in Ergul's garage on March 12, 2022. On the morning of March 13, disguised in dark clothing, masks, hoods and gloves, they allegedly lit the Molotov cocktail and threw it at the entrance to the clinic, starting a fire. Due to the damage, the clinic was forced to temporarily close and reschedule approximately 30 patient appointments, according to the release.

Ergul said in his plea agreement that in June 2022 – following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade – he and Brannon planned to use a second Molotov cocktail to attack another Planned Parenthood clinic, but abandoned their plan after seeing law enforcement approaching. the clinic, according to the prosecutor's office.

Ergul has been in federal custody since June 2023 and was the last defendant to be sentenced in the case.

Last month, Brannon was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of conspiracy, one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives, one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of intentionally damaging an establishment of reproductive health services in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

On May 13, Batten, 21, of Florida, was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison for advising Ergul and Brannon on how to make the Molotov cocktail used in the Planned Parenthood attack. He pleaded guilty Jan. 19 to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of willful damage to a reproductive health service facility.