Illinois man pleads guilty to driving car into Planned Parenthood, setting abortion clinic on fire

[essentialsaltes]

Philip J. Buyno of Prophetstown, Illinois, entered the plea Tuesday to a federal charge of attempting to use fire to damage a building used in interstate commerce.

Buyno admitted that, on May 20, he brought several containers filled with gasoline with him and used his car to breach the front entrance to a commercial building in Danville to burn it down before it could be used as a reproductive health clinic, prosecutors said.

Buyno is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 5. He faces five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and restitution for the damage caused to the building, prosecutors said.

 

[dwb001]

No body hurt.
I don't see a 74 year old guy getting 20 years in prison.
And the building was to be used for interstate commerce?... I thought is was for a medical procedure.

 

[GreatLakes4Ever]

No body hurt.
I don't see a 74 year old guy getting 20 years in prison.
And the building was to be used for interstate commerce?... I thought is was for a medical procedure.

In the United States, medical care is a for-profit enterprise so therefore, commerce. I know it’s quite bizarre but it is what it is.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

And the building was to be used for interstate commerce?... I thought is was for a medical procedure.

It wasn't an abortion clinic yet. The article just calls it a "commercial building", so it was probably some kind of warehouse.

 

[Arcangl86]

I'm sure he's just going to get the minimum considering his age. But still, 5 years is rough.

 

[essentialsaltes]

And the building was to be used for interstate commerce?... I thought is was for a medical procedure.

The owner does expect some traffic from Indiana, where the medical procedure is more restricted. (The interstate in the name of the crime is also (I gather) what makes this a federal case.) That article also suggests the perp is a bit cantankerous and has a record; it may not be a done deal that he gets the minimum.

Buyno talked freely to investigators, waiving his legal right to remain silent. He said that he has been intermittently active in the anti-abortion movement during the "late 1980s and early 1990s" and had been "arrested numerous times."

Huckstadt said in his affidavit that Buyno vowed that "if he were released from jail tomorrow, he would finish the job."

 

[durangodawood]

Arson does seem to have particular stiff penalties. I'm ok with that.

 

[Arcangl86]

Arson does seem to have particular stiff penalties. I'm ok with that.

I think I would for causes of actual arson, 5 years for attempted arson is a bit much imo.

 

[durangodawood]

I think I would for causes of actual arson, 5 years for attempted arson is a bit much imo.

I dont see the difference from a moral pov. I dont think the law recognizes a difference either.

Oh and did you see where the suspect said he'd "finish the job" if released?

 

[dwb001]

In the United States, medical care is a for-profit enterprise so therefore, commerce. I know it’s quite bizarre but it is what it is.

It is the interstate part that I was commenting on.

 

[durangodawood]

It is the interstate part that I was commenting on.

I went to a dental specialist in the next state over. Its pretty common.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

It is the interstate part that I was commenting on.

There are a number of possible explanations for this. Could be that it refers to potential interstate traffic to the clinic, or it could relate to the current function of the office (as I noted in my previous post). Furthermore, if multiple businesses occupy the structure, and one (or more) of those engages in interstate commerce, that could also justify the use of the statute.

 

[dwb001]

I went to a dental specialist in the next state over. Its pretty common.

But was the dental procedure illegal in your home state?

 

[RocksInMyHead]

But was the dental procedure illegal in your home state?

Irrelevant

 

[dwb001]

Irrelevant

Nope. That is exactly the point.

 

[RocksInMyHead]

Nope. That is exactly the point.

Are there states where it isn't illegal? If so, irrelevant.

Additionally, as I already pointed out, there are potential explanations for the invocation of the interstate commerce statute that have nothing to do with the future abortion clinic at the location.

 

[dwb001]

Are there states where it isn't illegal? If so, irrelevant.

Additionally, as I already pointed out, there are potential explanations for the invocation of the interstate commerce statute that have nothing to do with the future abortion clinic at the location.

Sex tourism is illegal... why not abortion tourism?

Not irrelevant.

 

[Arcangl86]

It is the interstate part that I was commenting on.

The Supreme Court has accepted a very broad view of what "interstate" means in the context of the Commerce Clause.

 

[durangodawood]

Sex tourism is illegal...

Really? You are not allowed to travel to where prostitution is legal to do it?

 

[dwb001]

The Supreme Court has accepted a very broad view of what "interstate" means in the context of the Commerce Clause.

Would it not just be crossing state lines to conduct commerce? Nothing complicated there.