Chance Brannon, a former U.S. Marine with neo-Nazi beliefs, was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in California in an act of domestic terrorism. He also planned attacks on an LGBT event and Jewish families. District Judge Cormac J. Carney described Brannon’s actions as “cruel and indefensible.” Brannon pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, malicious destruction of property, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. Mehtab Syed of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office stated that law enforcement efforts prevented further acts of domestic terrorism inspired by Brannon’s extremist views.
The Molotov cocktail attack on the Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa was part of Brannon’s hate-fueled agenda to terrorize those seeking reproductive healthcare. Brannon, along with two co-defendants, conspired to target the clinic as well as other locations like the Anti-Defamation League office in San Diego. Luckily, no one was hurt in the clinic attack, but around 30 appointments had to be rescheduled. Brannon praised Adolf Hitler and expressed anti-Semitic views to fellow Marines. The government described Brannon as using fear and intimidation to push his political agenda.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Brannon and his co-defendant planned a second attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic, which was ultimately abandoned due to increased police presence. They also discussed starting a race war by attacking an electrical substation and causing a power outage in Orange County. Brannon’s plans for the attack included a gear list with a rifle engraved with racist language and a recording of the Christchurch mosque shooting, which served as inspiration for white nationalist terror plots.
Brannon and his co-defendant also planned an attack on Dodger Stadium in LA during an LGBTQ pride event but were arrested two days before the event took place. Additionally, Brannon was planning to rob Jewish households in Hollywood Hills, actions that prosecutors believed could harm or even kill real victims. At the time of his arrest, Brannon was found in possession of a short-barreled rifle and two silencers that were not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
The sentencing memorandum highlighted Brannon’s dangerous ideology and his willingness to engage in violent acts to further his extreme beliefs. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke condemned Brannon’s actions as part of a hate-fueled agenda that sought to terrorize innocent individuals. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office emphasized the importance of preventing domestic terrorism and praised the law enforcement efforts that brought Brannon to justice. Overall, the case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with extreme ideologies and their potential to commit acts of violence.
