James Caldwell:Man sent to prison for 10 years for setting a fire at an Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic

2025-04-30 14:04:38source:Marc Leclerccategory:reviews

PEORIA,James Caldwell Ill. (AP) — A man who set a fire at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in federal prison.

Tyler Massengill has admitted using a homemade explosive to set a fire at the Peoria clinic in January, a few days after Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law with additional legal protections for abortion procedures. No one was inside the clinic when the fire happened.

“I feel for the people who have lost their jobs. I’m not trying to play like I am victim at this. I was sincerely hurt,” Massengill, 32, said in court, apparently a reference to his belief that a former girlfriend had an abortion a few years ago.

Prosecutors, however, said the woman told the FBI that wasn’t true.

Other news Illinois governor signs ban on firearms advertising allegedly marketed to kids and militantsStarting next year, child influencers can sue if earnings aren’t set aside, says new Illinois lawIllinois Supreme Court upholds state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons

U.S. District Judge James Shadid said people who typically visit the clinic for a variety of services have had to look elsewhere because of extensive damage to the building, WMBD-TV reported.

“And to add to your accomplishments, there’s the striking of fear, stress and inconvenience to thousands of patients and employees from the many other Planned Parenthood facilities who wonder if they are next on the list of misguided people like you,” the judge said.

Shadid went slightly above the sentencing guidelines but below the possible maximum prison term of 20 years.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered Massengill, a Chillicothe resident, to pay $1.45 million in restitution.

Defense attorney Karl Bryning asked for a five-year prison sentence, noting Massengill’s history of mental illness and alcohol abuse.

More:reviews

Recommend

The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot, watchdog finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol rioteven

Argentina star Ángel Di María says family received pig's head, threat to daughter's life

Argentina World Cup champion Ángel Di María says he won’t finish his soccer career with his hometo

2024 Olympics: Tennis' Danielle Collins Has Tense Interaction With Iga Swiatek After Retiring From Match

Danielle Collins found fault with opponent Iga Swiatek's attitude during their match at the 2024 Par