Man Who Fire Bombed Bay Area Sentenced: DOJ

OAKLAND, CA — An East Bay man who firebombed a UC Berkeley patrol car and a court building in Oakland during the summer of 2024 has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

Oakland resident Casey Robert Goonan, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously damaging or destroying property used in or affecting interstate commerce by means of fire or an explosive in January.

Authorities say Goonan tried to start a widespread fire around UC Berkeley during the early hours of June 1, 2024, by placing six Molotov cocktails underneath the fuel tank of a university's patrol car that was parked near campus.

The 35-year-old lit the bag on fire, causing the patrol car to catch on fire, and then left the scene, according to federal prosecutors.

Ten days later, Goonan tried to ignite the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland in the same way, authorities said.

To get the Molotovs inside, Goonan tried breaking the building's windows with rocks. But public safety officers thwarted his plans, and they instead placed the incendiary devices in a nearby planter and lit them on fire, according to federal prosecutors.

Goonan also set at least three other fires on the UC Berkeley Campus that same month, authorities said.

During sentencing on Tuesday, federal prosecutors painted Goonan as a "domestic terrorist" who was inspired by the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and was hoping to influence others to stand up against the federal and state governments.

Goonan previously told authorities that they hoped his firebombing would inspire more people to do the same and try to stand up against the federal and state government, federal prosecutors said.

A federal judge sentenced Goonan to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release, authorities said. They were also ordered to pay just over $94,000 in restitution following their release, federal prosecutors said.

“Freedom of expression and peaceful protest are deeply enshrined values in America," United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian said in a statement Tuesday. "We are all free to think what we want and express those views peacefully, but the use of violence to achieve political aims—or to silence those with whom you may disagree—has no place in our community and our country."