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August Trial Set for Abortion Clinic Fire Suspect

Posted: Fri 9:56 AM, Jun 08, 2012

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- A homeless man has pleaded not guilty to firebombing a Pensacola abortion clinic.
Bobby Joe Rogers will go to trial Aug. 6 in federal court on charges of arson and damaging a reproductive health facility. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment earlier this week.
Authorities say Rogers is responsible for a fire that destroyed the American Family Planning Clinic on Jan. 1. No injuries were reported. Anti-abortion violence at the clinic goes back nearly 30 years.
According to an affidavit, Rogers told investigators that he set the fire by filling a beer bottle with gasoline and using an old shirt as a wick.
The Pensacola News Journal reports that Rogers has had a psychiatric evaluation. Those results have not been made public.


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