Man pleads guilty in attack on Pa. governor

A man who scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and used beer bottles filled with gasoline to ignite the occupied Pennsylvania governor's mansion pleaded guilty Tuesday to the attempted murder of Gov. Josh Shapiro and other charges.

- BY MARK SCOLFORO

ARSON caused extensive damage to the governor's mansion in Harrisburg, Pa.

(Commonwealth Media Services)

Cody Balmer also entered pleas to terrorism, 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Shapiro, 21 counts of reckless endangerment and loitering in the April 13 attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned brick building.

Under 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 declined to address the judge about the crime, answering questions with short, simple answers.

Defense attorney Bryan Walk said Balmer “is taking full responsibility” and paying “a hefty price for a man who's 38 years old.”

Shapiro said during a news conference soon after the sentencing that he and his family support the plea deal, and that it provides real accountability.

Shapiro and members of his family had to be awakened and evacuated, but no one was injured in the fire. The multiple arson and endangerment charges reflected the number of people in the residence at the time, including the governor's family, guests and state troopers.

Shapiro lamented the effect of political violence, warning it is discouraging candidates from running for office. He said his family isn’t alone in experiencing political violence, and it shouldn't be accepted as the normal course of doing business.