Columbia man pleads guilty to Planned Parenthood fire

2 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago Thursday, November 21 2019 Nov 21, 2019 Thursday, November 21, 2019 12:02:00 PM CST November 21, 2019 in News
By: Spencer Quist, KOMU 8 Digital Producer

JEFFERSON CITY - A Columbia man pleaded guilty Thursday to setting a fire at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia in February.

Wesley Brian Kaster, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of maliciously using explosive materials to damage a building owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance, as well as one count of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Kaster broke a door at the clinic and threw in a Molotov cocktail. He admitted his reasoning was because Planned Parenthood provided reproductive health services at the facility.

Kaster will face a minimum of five years without parole up to 21 years in federal prison without parole. There is no scheduled date on sentencing yet.

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