Personal Injury Law
Domestic Extremism Hits Close to Home: Marine Pleads Guilty to Planned Parenthood Firebombing and Dodger Stadium Attack Plot The shocking case of Chance Brannon, a 24-year-old Marine from San Juan Capistrano, has sent shockwaves through Southern California. Brannon recently pleaded guilty to his involvement in a 2022 attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic, where he and another man threw a Molotov cocktail at the facility under the cover of darkness. In addition, Brannon admitted to planning further attacks at various sites in the region, including a planned attack at Dodger Stadium. The attack occurred on March 13, 2022, at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa. At the time, Brannon was an active-duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton. Brannon pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, destruction of property, and targeting a reproductive health services facility, which is in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. He confessed to planning the attack alongside two co-conspirators, Tibet Ergul, 22, from Irvine, and Xavier Batten, 21, from Brooksville, Florida. According to the United States Department of Justice, Brannon and Ergul drove to the Costa Mesa clinic early in the morning, ignited the Molotov cocktail, and threw it at the entrance of the clinic. Their goal was to instill fear in pregnant women, intimidate abortion providers, and encourage further acts of violence. The DOJ revealed that the men also discussed other potential targets, including the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish advocacy organization based in San Diego. In the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade, Brannon and Ergul began planning another attack at a different Planned Parenthood location. Brannon also admitted to providing advice to Batten on how to carry out similar attacks. The DOJ shared that the trio considered various targets for future attacks, including a Southern California Edison substation and an LGBTQ pride night celebration at Dodger Stadium. Brannon revealed that he and Ergul discussed the idea of starting a “race war” by disrupting power in Orange County. Disturbingly, Brannon possessed a USB drive disguised as a military necklace, on which he stored detailed plans for future attacks and a list of necessary gear. Authorities discovered that Brannon had already acquired many of the items on his list, including a rifle with a racial slur against African Americans written in a foreign language. Additionally, he possessed a recording of the white supremacist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2019, which resulted in the loss of 51 lives and left 40 individuals injured. Brannon’s inspiration came from the notorious Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski. He discussed the possibility of bombing the Dodger Stadium event and even scouted the venue in preparation for a potential attack. When Brannon was arrested in June, he was found to be in possession of an unregistered rifle and two illegal silencers. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized that Brannon represents the “insidious danger posed by domestic extremism,” and the DOJ remains committed to safeguarding the American people from violent ideologies. Don Always, Assistant Director of the FBI Los Angeles, echoed these sentiments, stating that those who harbor hatred and target reproductive health care clinics will not be tolerated. He stressed the importance of creating an environment where individuals seeking reproductive health services can obtain them without interference, intimidation, or fear. Brannon, Ergul, and Batten have been in federal custody since their arrests in June, more than a year after the Costa Mesa attack. Brannon is scheduled to be sentenced in April 2024 and faces between five and 20 years in federal prison for each of the conspiracy and malicious destruction counts. He could also receive an additional 10-year maximum sentence for possession of a destructive device. Ergul and Batten have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and are set to stand trial in March 2024. The troubling case of Chance Brannon serves as a stark reminder of the rise in domestic extremism and the threats faced by reproductive health care clinics across the nation. In the aftermath of the Roe v. Wade decision, clinics have experienced a significant increase in threats and attacks, particularly in states that provide greater access to abortion services. The National Abortion Federation has been documenting these acts of violence, with the DOJ also tracking their occurrence. As we await further developments in this case, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to combat domestic extremism and protect the rights and safety of all individuals seeking reproductive health care.
November 30, 2023
