Cody Balmer mugshot
The man who set fire to the Governor’s Residence in April has been sentenced to over two decades in prison.
Cody Balmer, 38, who threw Molotov cocktails into PA Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas.
Judge Deborah Curcillo sentenced Balmer to 25 to 50 years in state prison, saying that surveillance videos from the attack, played in the courtroom on Tuesday, were “frightening beyond belief.”
On April 13, Balmer scaled the fence surrounding the mansion at N. Front and Maclay streets, broke a window, entered the mansion and threw two homemade fire bombs inside the section of the building used for public functions, dinners and receptions. Surveillance footage also showed Balmer attempting to enter the portion of the building where Shapiro, his family and a number of guests, including young children, slept. He was unable to access that portion of the building and no occupants were harmed.
Balmer, of Penbrook, accepted the prosecution’s plea agreement, pleading guilty to all charges, 49 counts, including attempted first-degree murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and prowling at night.
In addition to the prison sentence, Balmer is required to pay $100,000 in restitution.
The 25-to-50-year sentence is a combination of a 17-to-34-year sentence for the attempted murder charge and an 8-to-16-year sentence for the aggravated arson charge. All other sentences for additional counts will be served concurrently to the aforementioned.
In a statement read during the plea hearing on Tuesday, Balmer’s family apologized for his actions, saying they “cannot be excused,” but must be understood in the context of mental illness.
Balmer’s family stated that, at one time, he was a loving father who coached youth football and a “pillar of the community” who helped the unhoused. However, Balmer began to deal with severe mental health issues, landing him in the state psychiatric hospital, where he received medication. When he unknowingly stopped taking his medication, he began “spiraling” again, the family said.
Before the attack on the Governor’s Residence, the family said that they sought assistance for Balmer, but were turned down.
Balmer’s defense attorney expressed his desire to have Balmer evaluated for mental health needs and placed in treatment.
During the hearing, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo read a statement of impact from Shapiro and first lady Lori Shapiro, in which they said they’ve been left with a “nagging sense of fear and anxiety.”
“We will not be deterred from our work, but we are also not without scars from this attack,” the statement read.
The Shapiros said that members of their family have suffered trouble sleeping, fear of walking around the house at night and heightened safety concerns at public events.
The mansion suffered severe fire damage as well and a rebuild is currently underway. The residence is also undergoing substantial security upgrades, including new fencing surrounding the property.
Balmer has already been detained in prison since April 14, time that will count towards his sentence.
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