Illinois man charged in Planned Parenthood clinic fire

CHICAGO (AP) — A central Illinois man was charged Wednesday with setting hearth to a Deliberate Parenthood clinic earlier this month, federal regulation enforcement mentioned.

Tyler W. Massengill, 32, of Chillicothe, is accused of “malicious use of fireplace and an explosive to break, and try to break” the clinic in Peoria, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned in an announcement.

Massengill was arrested by Peoria police Tuesday. On-line court docket information didn’t point out whether or not he had appeared in court docket or been assigned an legal professional but.

The U.S. Lawyer’s workplace mentioned in an announcement that safety digicam video confirmed a person approaching the constructing with a bottle, lighting a rag on one finish of it, smashing a window and placing the incendiary system inside, earlier than rapidly fleeing on foot.

Investigators mentioned Massengill initially denied duty however later acknowledged setting the hearth. Based on a U.S. District Court docket prison criticism, he advised them his then-girlfriend had an abortion three years in the past and it upset him, and he thought that if his actions prompted “a bit of delay” in an individual receiving providers on the well being heart, it could have been “all price it.”

The assault on the clinic passed off the night time of Jan. 15, two days after the state enacted sweeping reproductive well being care laws geared toward defending abortion sufferers and suppliers.

No sufferers or employees had been inside, however the blaze prompted “intensive” injury that may price greater than $1 million and power the clinic to shut for months for repairs, mentioned Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Deliberate Parenthood of Illinois.

“This mindless act of vandalism has robbed the group of entry to contraception, most cancers screenings, STI testing and therapy and gender-affirming care, in addition to treatment abortion providers,” Welch mentioned, describing the vary of providers the clinic supplies. She added, “We’re happy an arrest has been made.”

If convicted, Massengill faces as much as 40 years in jail with a minimal sentence of 5 years, in line with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace assertion. The cost might additionally carry as much as three years of supervised launch and $250,000 in fines.

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