Federal Grand Jury Charges Three in Molotov Cocktail Attack Last Year on Planned Parenthood Clinic

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Grand Jury Charges Three in Molotov Cocktail Attack Last Year on Planned Parenthood Clinic

Monday, July 24, 2023

For Immediate Release
Office of Public Affairs

Two Defendants Arraigned, Third Defendant Arrested Late Last Week in Florida

Two California men now named in a four-count federal grand jury indictment were arraigned earlier today on charges alleging they conducted a firebombing attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Orange County in March 2022.

The two defendants arraigned today are Chance Brannon, 23, of San Juan Capistrano, an active-duty Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, and Tibet Ergul, 21, of Irvine.

A third defendant now charged in this case – Xavier Batten, 21, of Brooksville, Florida – was arrested Friday by special agents with the FBI. Batten made his initial appearance on Friday in the Middle District of Florida. He was ordered held without bond pending trial.

The indictment, returned on July 14 and unsealed Friday, charges all three defendants with one count of conspiracy and one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosion. Additionally, Brannon and Ergul both are charged with one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, which is a violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.

According to the indictment, in February and March of 2022, the defendants plotted to throw a Molotov cocktail at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa. Brannon and Ergul allegedly chose the target property, obtained the materials necessary to construct a Molotov cocktail, assembled the destructive device, then, during the early morning hours of March 13, 2022, threw the ignited Molotov cocktail at the clinic. The device struck the clinic entrance.

Batten allegedly advised and directed Brannon regarding how to build the Molotov cocktail.

As a result of the fire, the Planned Parenthood Costa Mesa health care clinic was forced to close the following morning and cancel approximately 30 appointments.

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Read more: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/federal-grand-jury-charges-three-molotov-cocktail-attack-last-year-planned-parenthood-clinic