A US Marine was one of two men arrested Wednesday in connection to the firebombing of a California Planned Parenthood last year, federal prosecutors said.
Chance Brannon, a 23-year-old active duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton in Orange County, and Tibet Ergul, 21, were taken into custody for allegedly tossing a Molotov cocktail at the entrance of the Costa Mesa clinic in March 2022.
Prosecutors allege Brannon and Ergul disguised themselves in hooded sweatshirts and face masks to carry out the early morning attack.
Surveillance video allegedly captured the men approaching the Planned Parenthood location, igniting the device and then throwing it at the building’s front door, according to prosecutors.
“The device landed against a southern wall next to the glass door and erupted into a fire, which spread up the wall and across the ceiling above the glass door,” the complaint states.
The FBI had issued a wanted poster in January this year offering a $25,000 reward for help identifying the suspects, which prompted an individual who attended high school with Brannon and Ergul to come forward, the complaint says.
The person told investigators Ergul texted him boasting about his involvement in the bombing, as well as a photo of a hand holding a Molotov cocktail inside a moving car.
No one was hurt in the attack but, as a result of the fire, prosecutors said the health care clinic was forced to shutter the following morning and cancel approximately 30 appointments.
“My office takes very seriously this brazen attack that targeted a facility that provides critical health care services to thousands of people in Orange County,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said.
“While it is fortunate that no one was physically harmed and responders were able to prevent the clinic from being destroyed, the defendants’ violent actions are entirely unacceptable.”
Ergul and Brannon were each slapped with charges of using an explosive or fire to damage real property affecting interstate commerce.
If convicted, they each face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison.