Middletown Man Charged In Federal Court In Connection With Use Of Incendiary Device At Newark Planned Parenthood

WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Samuel James Gulick, 18, of Middletown, Delaware was charged today in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware in connection with utilizing an incendiary device to damage the Planned Parenthood facility in Newark, Delaware on January 3, 2020.

Gulick is charged in a three-count complaint with: (1) maliciously damaging a building used in interstate commerce through the use of fire or destructive device; (2) intentionally damaging a facility that provides reproductive health services; and (3) possession of an unregistered destructive device under the National Firearms Act.

According to court documents, at approximately 2:16 a.m. on January 3, 2020, an individual later identified as Gulick drove to the Planned Parenthood facility in Newark, Delaware.  Video surveillance captured Gulick standing on the front porch of the building and spray-painting the phrase “Deus Vult” in red letters. Gulick then stepped off the front porch, lit an object and threw it at the front window of the Planned Parenthood facility. The object exploded and Gulick ran away. The fire burned for approximately one minute before self-extinguishing. The explosion damaged the front window and porch of the building. Through video surveillance, law enforcement identified a car operated by Gulick fleeing the scene. Law enforcement also identified Gulick through social media postings attributed to him, including posts containing the phrase “Deus Vult” and several anti-abortion posts.  Gulick was arrested by the FBI without incident on January 4, 2020.

If convicted of the most serious offense - maliciously damaging the Planned Parenthood facility - Gulick faces a statutory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.   Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being investigated by the FBI-Baltimore Division’s Wilmington Resident Agency with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Police Department, University of Delaware Police, Delaware State Police, , Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office, and New Castle County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne C. Dedjinou is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 20-60M.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.