A federal judge has sentenced Casey Robert Goonan, who was motivated by Hamas terrorists, to nearly two decades in prison in California, along with restitution and supervised release. Goonan received a harsh sentence for his role in a series of arsons and firebombings that occurred in June 2024 at UC Berkeley and a federal court in Oakland, as stated by the Department of Justice. The US Senior District Judge Jeffrey White emphasized the severity of these acts, noting that Goonan admitted his actions were inspired by an Israeli attack on October 7, 2023, involving Hamas. In January, he pleaded guilty to maliciously damaging property through fire or explosives.
On June 1, 2024, Goonan placed a bag containing six Molotov cocktails under a patrol vehicle belonging to the University of California Police Department. Just days later, he attempted to throw a rock into federal court in a misguided effort to provoke a reaction from federal agents. He later ignited fires against the side of the building. Prosecutors revealed that he instigated three additional fires on the Berkeley campus throughout June and encouraged others to target Bay Area college properties in support of Palestine.
Goonan’s attorney, Sarah Potter, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the case. In a letter to Judge White, Goonan portrayed himself as a troubled youth whose political awareness increased during college. He shared that he earned his bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies from UC Riverside and his doctorate in African American studies from Northwestern University.
In Goonan’s own words, he became deeply invested in issues such as Palestinian liberation and racial justice while in school. He expressed feelings of shared responsibility as a US citizen for the impact of government actions overseas, especially concerning Palestinians. Furthermore, he disclosed that he struggles with bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, mentioning a decline in his mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He has a prior arrest in 2023 for vandalism during a protest.
Reflecting on his actions, Goonan acknowledged the potential harm his fires could have caused not just to individuals but also to the broader community. “It was never my intention to hurt people,” he insisted, emphasizing that he views himself not as an arsonist but as a passionate activist.
Potter reiterated Goonan’s narrative in a sentencing memo, advocating for a prison term of less than eight years due to concerns about his diabetes management in custody. A number of scholars who know Goonan submitted supportive letters to Judge White in advance of the sentencing. Still, the judge labeled Goonan a “domestic terrorist,” imposing a 15-year supervised release following his prison term and requiring over $94,000 in reparations.
