July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Marine Corps Member Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firebombing Clinic and Domestic Terrorism Plots

Man Receives 9-Year Sentence for Neo-Nazi Plots Including Hollywood Hills Home Invasion Plans 

A man from Orange County, convicted of firebombing a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa and plotting other violent attacks, including targeting the Orange County power grid and Dodger Stadium during an LGBTQ+ pride night celebration, has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison.

Chance Brannon, 24, of San Juan Capistrano, an active-duty member of the United States Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton at the time of the firebombing, received the sentence from United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney. Additionally, Judge Carney ordered Brannon to pay $1,000 in restitution. Brannon has been in federal custody since his arrest in June 2023.

Just days before his arrest, Brannon began planning with a friend to rob Jewish residents of the Hollywood Hills. As prosecutors argued in court documents, Brannon’s “use of racial and homophobic slurs, casual expressions of misogyny, and persistent expressions of violent intent went far beyond empty words; rather, the defendant intended – and in many instances planned – to take overt action that would at the very least scare and intimidate women, racial minorities, and the Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities, and would at worst harm or even kill real victims.”

Throughout the early summer of 2023, Brannon and Ergul also discussed and researched how to attack Dodger Stadium on a night celebrating LGBTQ pride, including by using a remote-detonated device. As part of those conversations, Brannon shared a “WW2 sabotage manual” with Ergul, discussed doing “dry runs” to “case” the stadium, and conducted research on Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber. According to court documents, Brannon and Ergul were arrested two days before the event.

Brannon was motivated by an extremist neo-nazi ideology, prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum. Brannon frequently greeted his friends using “88,” which is coded language for “Heil Hitler,” and he called Adolf Hitler “a great man who loved his people and tried to save us all from the Jews,” According to the sentencing memorandum. Brannon possessed antisemitic writings, drawings, and literature in his bedroom at the time of his arrest and made comments to his fellow Marines, including, “All Jews deserve to die.”

At the time of his arrest, Brannon possessed a short-barreled rifle and two silencers, which he had not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. According to the government’s sentencing memorandum, in 2022, Brannon placed calls to two foreign adversaries, hoping to offer himself up as a “mole” by providing U.S. intelligence.

Describing Brannon’s actions as “cruel and indefensible domestic terrorism,” Judge Carney highlighted the severity of the offenses committed.

Brannon pleaded guilty in November 2023 to multiple 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, all in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

According to United States Attorney Martin Estrada, Brannon’s actions were fueled by deep-seated hatred, leading him to commit the firebombing and plan further acts of violence, including sparking a race war.

Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized that the Justice Department does not tolerate violence used to intimidate and endanger, and Brannon’s prosecution and subsequent sentencing hold him accountable for his actions.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division condemned Brannon’s assault on the Costa Mesa Clinic, emphasizing that such violence has no place in the discourse on reproductive health.

The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which worked extensively on the case, expressed pride in the collaborative efforts that led to Brannon’s apprehension before further acts of domestic terrorism could be carried out.

Brannon, along with his co-defendants, Tibet Ergul, 22, of Irvine, and Xavier Batten, 21, of Brooksville, Florida, conspired to use a Molotov cocktail to destroy a commercial property in February and March of 2022. Ultimately, they targeted a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, intending to intimidate pregnant women and deter doctors and staff from providing abortion services.

During the early morning hours of March 13, 2022, Brannon and Ergul ignited and threw the Molotov cocktail at the clinic, igniting a fire before fleeing. They later returned to survey their work. Brannon also counseled Batten on similar attacks and planned further assaults following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

Brannon and Ergul also discussed starting a race war by attacking an electrical substation to disrupt the power grid in Orange County. Brannon possessed items indicative of his extremist views, including a rifle inscribed with racial slurs and a recording of the Christchurch mosque shooting.

Brannon’s sentencing follows Batten and Ergul’s plead guilty to criminal charges earlier this year. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for May.

The FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service spearheaded the investigation, with support from the Costa Mesa Police Department and the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...