A Prophetstown, Illinois man who pleaded guilty to the attempted arson of a Danville building has been sentenced to five years in federal prison. U. S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce also ordered 73-year-old Philip J. Buyno to pay over $327-thousand-five-hundred dollars in restitution.
Buyno had admitted that on May 20, 2023 he placed several containers of gasoline in his car and drove into the front of a commercial building at 600 North Logan Avenue. The U.S. District Attorney’s Office says it was an attempt to burn the building down before it could be used as a reproductive health clinic.
Danville Police found Buyno stuck inside the car he had backed into the entrance of the building when they responded to an alarm around 4:30 in the morning. A search of the car by officers found bottles containing gasoline, a hatchet, road flares, multiple old tires, and a pack of matches. Agents also discovered Buyno had fortified the trunk of the vehicle with 4 by 4 wooden beams.
Buyno has remained in custody since his arrest on May 20, 2023.
He had faced statutory penalties from a minimum five years up to twenty years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, three years supervised release, and restitution for the damage caused to the building.
“Our office strongly condemns the defendant’s attempt to prevent women in our community from accessing important reproduction health services,’’ said U. S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, Gregory K. Harris. “We are committed to prosecuting such crimes and thank our federal and local law enforcement officers for their critical work in pursuing this case.”
“The FBI will always protect First Amendment Rights, but when someone crosses the line from expressing beliefs to violating federal law, we will work to hold them accountable” said David Nanz, Special Agent in Charge of the Springfield FBI office.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Danville Police Department. Assistant U. S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.
