HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – cody Balmer, a Pennsylvania man, pleaded guilty wednesday to arson for intentionally setting a fire at the governor’s residence last year, officials confirmed. The blaze caused critically important damage to the mansion while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were not home.
The incident prompted a large-scale examination and raised concerns about security at the governor’s official residence. Balmer’s plea comes after a period of mental health evaluations,and as ongoing repairs and security enhancements continue at the property. He faces sentencing in the coming months.
According to court documents, Balmer admitted to starting the fire at the governor’s mansion in October 2023. His defense team stated balmer had been experiencing mental health issues and had stopped taking his medication, leading to manic episodes. They argued that ”nobody would help” him access the care he needed.
Prior to the plea, Balmer’s relatives submitted a letter to the court detailing his struggles with mental health and the impact of discontinuing his medication. Balmer himself told a judge he was unemployed, had no savings, and was supporting multiple children.
The fire,which occurred at the residence built in 1968,caused extensive damage to walls,furniture,and fixtures,including a piano. the mansion was not equipped with a sprinkler system.
Repairs to the damage and upgrades to the mansion’s security features are still underway. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
