BUFFALO, N.Y. – A Buffalo man who threw a pipe bomb into a predominantly black church last summer has pleaded guilty to three felony charges.
The Redeeming Fire Fellowship Church was empty when 29-year-old Richard Blonski kicked in the door and threw the lit bomb inside last July 4. The fuse went out before the bomb detonated.
Among the charges Blonski admitted to in federal court Monday were attempting to damage religious property because of the race, color and ethnic characteristics of the church's members.
He could face at least five years and three months in prison when he is sentenced in July.
Shortly after his arrest, Blonski told investigators he drank a lot of whiskey and beer before throwing the bomb and was despondent that his life was going nowhere.
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