California Man Sentenced for Arson

A man responsible for an arson attack in California last year has been sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California.

The court characterized him as a “domestic terrorist,” indicating that his actions were intended to foster or promote federal terrorist crimes.

In January, Casey Robert Goonan pleaded guilty to a charge involving the destruction of property affected by fire or explosives in interstate commerce. A release from the office detailed a specific incident on June 1, 2024, where Goonan allegedly placed a Molotov cocktail under a vehicle’s fuel tank at the University of California Police Station, which later ignited.

But this wasn’t the only incident linked to him. He also tried to shatter windows by throwing rocks alongside Molotov cocktails at the Ronald V. Delam Federal Building and the U.S. courthouse on June 11, 2024. However, a protective service officer disrupted his plan. When fleeing the scene, Goonan reportedly lit another Molotov cocktail placed in a planter near the building.

It’s worth mentioning that Goonan cited the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, as a motivating factor for his actions. He confessed that these attacks inspired him and that he had encouraged others to target properties on Bay Area college campuses in support of Palestine. Goonan admitted that his actions were intended to intimidate and coerce, expressing his opposition to California’s state government.

U.S. Senior District Judge Jeffrey S. White also mandated 15 years of supervised release upon Goonan’s release from custody and ordered restitution amounting to $94,267.51, along with an additional $100.