September 19, 2024
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Man who set fire at Illinois Planned Parenthood clinic gets 10 years in prison

Chillicothe man admitted to using homemade explosive to set fire at Peoria clinic

By The Associated Press
FILE- A front window is boarded up at the Planned Parenthood Health Center at 2709 Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, Ill., on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. Tyler W. Massengill of Chillicothe, Ill. pleaded guilty Thursday, Feb 16, 2023, to “malicious use of fire” to damage the Planned Parenthood clinic last month, federal law enforcement said.

FILE- A front window is boarded up at the Planned Parenthood Health Center at 2709 Knoxville Avenue in Peoria, Illinois, in January. Tyler W. Massengill of Chillicothe, Ill. pleaded guilty Thursday, Feb 16, 2023, to “malicious use of fire” to damage the Planned Parenthood clinic last month, federal law enforcement said. (Matt Dayhoff/Journal Star via AP/AP)

PEORIA – 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. JB 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.

This book photo provided by the Peoria, Ill., Police Department shows Tyler Massengill, a central Illinois man charged Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, for allegedly setting fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic earlier this month, federal law enforcement said. Massengill, 32, of Chillicothe, Ill., is charged with “malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage” the Planned Parenthood building in Peoria, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This book photo provided by the Peoria, Ill., Police Department shows Tyler Massengill, a central Illinois man charged Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, for allegedly setting fire to a Planned Parenthood clinic earlier this month, federal law enforcement said. Massengill, 32, of Chillicothe, Ill., is charged with “malicious use of fire and an explosive to damage, and attempt to damage” the Planned Parenthood building in Peoria, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. (Peoria Police Department via AP/AP)

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

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.

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

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

The clinic plans to reopen in 2024.

“Justice has been served. ... We stand in solidarity with the community in Peoria that continues to heal from this traumatic event,” said Jennifer Welch, president of Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

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