Wesley Brian Kaster Archives

Man pleads guilty to throwing Molotov cocktail inside Columbia’s Planned Parenthood facility

November 21, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A Columbia man will be heading to federal prison, after admitting in a Jefferson City courtroom on Thursday that he threw a Molotov cocktail inside the Columbia Planned Parenthood facility in February.

Federal prosecutors say 42-year-old Wesley Brian Kaster faces a minimum of five years in federal prison, after pleading guilty to two counts. Kaster pleaded guilty to two counts of a superceding information. The first count is maliciously using explosive materials to damage a building owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance. The second count is violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman Don Ledford tells Missourinet those two counts replaced the federal indictment, which will be dismissed at sentencing.

Kaster faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in prison. He told U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie Epps Jr. today in Jefferson City that he took the actions because Planned Parenthood provided reproductive health services at that facility.

Kaster was arrested in March, after federal agents served multiple search warrants. He admits that he made a Molotov cocktail on February 10 and threw it into the Columbia Health Center, which is operated by Planned Parenthood Great Plains. There were no injuries in the incident, which happened at about 4:10 a.m.

Federal prosecutors have said that surveillance video from Planned Parenthood and from neighboring businesses recorded Kaster starting at about 2:30 a.m. on February 10, when he placed a bucket inside the building that was later found to be filled with gasoline. After a few attempts over the next hour, prosecutors say Kaster ignited a Molotov cocktail-type device inside.

Kaster has been in federal custody, without bond, since his March 2 arrest. A sentencing date hasn’t been set yet.

The case was investigated by Columbia Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and by the FBI.

Delay in Columbia Planned Parenthood arson trial

October 2, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A trial for a mid-Missouri man charged with the February arson at the Columbia Planned Parenthood clinic has been delayed.

42-year-old Wesley Brian Kaster of Columbia is charged with one count of maliciously damaging a building, owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance, by means of fire or an explosive.

Kaster’s trial was scheduled to begin last week; however, U.S. Attorney’s office spokesman Don Ledford says Kaster requested a continuance and federal prosecutors did not object.

The new trial date is December 2 in Jefferson City, before U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes.

Federal prosecutors say surveillance video from Planned Parenthood and from neighboring businesses recorded Kaster starting at about 2:30 a.m. on February 10, when he allegedly broke the front door and placed a bucket inside the building that was later found to be filled with gasoline. Prosecutors say that after a few attempts during the next hour, Kaster allegedly ignited a Molotov cocktail-type device inside the clinic.

Ledford tells Missourinet that Kaster remains in federal custody until trial.

Fall trial date set for Columbia Planned Parenthood arson suspect

August 3, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A September trial has been scheduled for a Columbia man charged with last winter’s arson at a mid-Missouri Planned Parenthood facility.

42-year-old Wesley Brian Kaster is charged in federal court with the February 10 arson at the Columbia Health Center, which is operated by Planned Parenthood Great Plains. He’s charged with one count of maliciously damaging a building, owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance, by means of fire or an explosive.

U.S. Attorney Timothy Garrison’s spokesman, Don Ledford, tells Missourinet that Kaster’s trial is set for September 23 at the Christopher Bond U.S. Courthouse in Jefferson City.

Federal prosecutors say surveillance video from Planned Parenthood and from neighboring businesses recorded Kaster starting at about 2:30 a.m. on February 10, when he allegedly broke the front door and placed a bucket inside the building that was later found to be filled with gasoline. After a few attempts over the next hour, prosecutors say Kaster ignited a Molotov cocktail-type device inside.

Kaster was arrested on March 2, after federal agents served multiple federal search warrants. The FBI investigated the case.