Pennsylvania man pleads guilty in arson attack at governor’s mansion

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man who climbed an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and used beer bottles filled with gasoline to set the occupied scene alight. Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder of Gov. Josh Shapiro and other charges.

Cody Balmer also pleaded to terrorism, 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Shapiro21 counts of endangerment and reckless loitering in the April 13 attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned brick building.

As part of a plea deal, Balmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison, far less than he could have faced if the case had gone to trial. He refused to address the judge about the crime, responding to questions with short, simple answers.

Defense lawyer Bryan Walk said Balmer “takes full responsibility” and pays “a heavy price for a 38-year-old man.”

Shapiro said at a news conference shortly after the sentencing that he and his family supported the plea deal and that it allowed for true accountability.

Shapiro and his family members had to be woken up and evacuatedbut no one was injured in the fire. The multiple charges of arson and endangerment reflected the number of people who were in the residence at the time, including the governor’s family, guests and state troopers.

Shapiro lamented the impact of political violence, warning that it discourages candidates from running for office. He said his family was not the only one experiencing political violence and it should not be accepted as the normal course of business.

Shapiro said that as world leaders reached out to him after the attack, “these conversations inevitably turn to their own sense of vulnerability and their own concern about political violence.”

He said he’s spoken to potential candidates who said they didn’t want to run because it would put their families at risk.

The fire was started hours after the family celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder at the residence. Prosecutors played video clips showing Molotov cocktails exploding and a figure inside and outside the residence. Judge Deborah Curcillo called the video “horrible” and “very frightening.”

Dauphin County Prosecutor Fran Chardo told the court that the video shows Balmer kicking the doors leading to where Shapiro and his family were sleeping, but he was unable to get through. Smoke was building up inside as Balmer deployed the second incendiary device. Fifteen overnight guests, including children, and two state troopers were inside.

Shapiro and his wife, Lori, provided a victim impact statement read in court that described how they felt exposed in ways they could not have imagined, calling it “a fear and anxiety that we learn to live with.” The experience added stress to their children’s lives, they wrote.

Balmer told police he planned to beat Shapiro with a small hammer if he encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents. Balmer surrendered the next afternoon.

Police say Balmer broke in through the south wing of the residence, into a room often used for entertaining crowds and displaying art. Investigators found two broken glass beer bottles containing gasoline. The fire charred the walls, the tables, the buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano. Glass and bricks around doors and windows were also damaged.

The attack on a Jewish governor over Passover weekend has raised questions about Balmer’s motivationbut Balmer told The Associated Press in a letter from prison in May that that had not been a factor in his decision.

“He can be Jewish, Muslim or a purple people eater, it doesn’t matter and as long as he leaves me and mine alone,” Balmer wrote.

Chardo said Balmer told investigators he was concerned about the war in Gaza and “the potential for many millions of deaths – his words. And he said, you know, even if I just have to take a life, I’m not crazy about having to take a life, but I will if it’s because of the millions of people in danger. So he saw that as compensation for the war in the Middle East.”

Balmer told the AP in a brief June 9 video interview from Camp Hill State Prison that he had considered beforehand whether children might be harmed.

“Is anyone thinking of the children?” » Balmer said in June. “It doesn’t appear to be the case. I’m sure it is. I’m glad no one was hurt.” When asked why he thought Shapiro hurt him, Balmer said, “I’m not going to answer that question.”

Balmer’s mother said days after his arrest that she tried to get him help with mental health problemsbut “no one would help me.” Court proceedings were delayed while he received mental health treatmenthis lawyer said.

A letter from Balmer’s loved ones, read in court Tuesday, said he stopped taking medication, which led to manic episodes and a “dark and difficult path.”

At a court hearing days after the fire, Balmer told a judge he was an unemployed welder with no income or savings and “with a lot of kids.”

The residence, built in 1968, did not have sprinklers. Work at repair the damage and to strengthen your security features continue.