Former Camp Pendleton Marine sentenced to 9 years in prison for firebombing Planned Parenthood

A former U.S. Marine who firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa two years ago while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton was sentenced to nine years in federal prison on Monday.

Chance Brannon, 24, of San Juan Capistrano has been in custody since his arrest in June, a little over a year after he and an accomplice threw a Molotov cocktail at the front entrance to the clinic, scorching a wall.

The next morning, workers at the clinic smelled gasoline and were forced to evacuate the building, according to court documents.

After the FBI released security-camera footage of the two attackers, a witness came forward identifying both Brannon and the other man, Tibet Ergul, 23, of Irvine.

Ergul had texted the witness photos of himself holding the glass bottle filled with gasoline while Brannon drove him to the clinic. The witness sent the photos to the FBI, who began investigating Brannon and Ergul.

A third man, Xavier Batten, of Florida was also arrested on suspicion of teaching Brannon and Ergul how to make the device.

In January, Batten agreed to plead guilty to possession of a destructive device. Court records show Ergul, who previously was expected to face a trial over planning and carrying out the attack, agreed to a plea deal in February.

Brannon was immediately returned to custody on Monday to begin his sentence.

Cain writes for Southern California News Group.