Chance Brannon, a 24-year-old former Marine, has been handed a nine-year prison sentence for his role in a violent attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Orange County, California, back in 2022. This disturbing incident was just one part of a series of planned assaults orchestrated by Brannon and his neo-Nazi associates.
Stationed at Camp Pendleton during the attack, Brannon, along with another individual, carried out the firebombing. Since his arrest in June 2023, he has been held in federal custody.
Brannon admitted guilt to several charges, including conspiracy, malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives, possession of an unregistered destructive device, and intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility. U.S. District Judge Cormac J. Carney sentenced him to nine years behind bars and ordered him to pay $1,000 in restitution.
Mehtab Syed, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, commented on Brannon’s sentencing, noting that his extreme beliefs led him to target those who did not align with his neo-Nazi ideology. Syed emphasized the gravity of Brannon’s actions, stressing the threat they posed to innocent lives.
Beyond the Planned Parenthood attack, Brannon and his cohorts had been plotting other violent acts for over a year, including attempts to incite a race war. They discussed targeting Dodger Stadium on Pride Night and contemplated using a remote-detonated device. Fortunately, they were apprehended just before they could carry out their plans.
Brannon and his associate, 22-year-old Tibet Ergul, also discussed targeting an electrical substation in Orange County as part of their scheme to sow racial discord.
Brannon possessed disturbing materials, including plans for the attack disguised as a Marine Corps necklace, a rifle adorned with hateful symbols, and a recording of the Christchurch mosque shooting.
The government’s sentencing memorandum shed light on Brannon’s use of racial slurs and derogatory remarks towards minority groups. His possession of antisemitic writings further underscored his extremist views.
In the weeks leading up to his arrest, Brannon expressed eagerness for a race war, lamenting the lack of action from others. His messages to a friend revealed his desire to expedite the conflict.
Brannon’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals who adhere to extremist ideologies. It underscores the need for law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant in combating domestic terrorism.