A pro-Palestinian activist has been sentenced to 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to 'firebombing' a police car on a college campus.
Casey Robert Goonan, 35, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison for committing a series of firebombings at UC Berkley as part of an anti-Israel protest in June 2024.
Goonan, who uses they/them pronouns, lit a bag of six explosives under a University of California Police Department patrol car, causing the car to be engulfed in flames.
The 35-year-old has been in custody since their initial arrest on June 17, 2024.
'After spending over a year incarcerated, I've had time to reflect on the reality of my actions and the reality of my bipolar disorder. I understand that I need treatment,' Goonan told Judge Jeffrey White, the San Francisco Standard reported.
'Committing an act like this is outside of my general character as my core belief is against perpetuating harm.'
Goonan pleaded guilty in January to one count of 'maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive' according to the press release.
The court called the 35-year-old a 'domestic terrorist,' adding that Goonan 'committed a felony offense that was intended to promote a federal crime of terrorism.'
Casey Robert Goonan, 35, was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for committing a series of firebombings at UC Berkley as part of an anti-Israel protest
A pro-Palestinian activist was slapped a 19 year prison sentence after pleading guilty to 'firebombing' a police car on a college campus, in June 2024
The domestic terrorist said the attacks were inspired by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel and called on fellow peers to destroy campus property in support of Palestine, according to the Department of Justice.
'Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America,' said United States Attorney Craig H Missakian.
'Anyone who crosses the line between peaceful protest and violence will be met with the full force of the law,' he added.
Goonan also attempted to firebomb a federal building and US Courthouse in Oakland less than two weeks after the first arson attack, and set other fires on the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, June 13, and June 16 2024.
Judge White ordered 15 years of supervised release after Goonan's release and ordered them to pay $94,267 in damages.
'This domestic terrorist could have taken untold lives had his violent attacks been more successful, and using the evils of Hamas as motivation speaks to his depravity,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
'He will have many long years in prison to think about his crimes, and the Department of Justice will continue prosecuting political violence across America.'