HARRISBURG — The accused arsonist who attacked the official Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence advanced his criminal case to Dauphin County Court, waiving the opportunity to contest evidence in a preliminary hearing in district court and seek the dismissal of charges.
Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, will again face arraignment on 50 criminal counts filed by Pennsylvania State Police — attempted homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, aggravated assault, all of which are felonies, along with misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person and loitering and prowling at night.
There are 22 counts each for aggravated arson and reckless endangerment, one count for each person inside the governor’s mansion during the arson attack on April 13.
Balmer will be asked to enter a plea in county court on Oct. 3 and have bail re-established. He’s currently held without bail in Dauphin County Prison.
Balmer allegedly set fire to the residence as Gov. Josh Shapiro, his immediate family and extended family slept after hosting a Passover dinner the evening prior. Staff were also on site. The Shapiros are of the Jewish faith.
Police say Balmer scaled a fence surrounding the mansion along North Front Street in Harrisburg, activated a security sensor and hid in the dark while a state trooper searched the property.
Balmer allegedly moved toward the mansion and smashed two windows, tossing a Molotov cocktail through one and climbing through the second and igniting a second homemade firebomb while inside before fleeing on foot. He later walked to a local police station and surrendered.
A closed door inside the residence is credited by firefighters with preventing flames from spreading toward the living areas and bought time for police to awaken and evacuate the building. Everyone inside escaped without physical harm.
A slew of security upgrades were approved for the residence following the attack, including anti-climb fencing, new vehicles for the on-site state police detail, additional equipment and a third-party security review.
Frustrated by a lack of disclosure of the review’s details, Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Jesse Topper and Rep. Craig Williams, R-Chester/Delaware, introduced a resolution in May proposing an investigation through the House Government Oversight Committee.
Topper had said several times that he’s in agreement with withholding certain aspects of such a review as a precaution for the safety of Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family. However, he said the public is entitled to further information concerning the security failures beyond what has been made public. The resolution hasn’t progressed through committee and onto the House floor for a full vote by the chamber.