Josh Shapiro home arsonist gets up to 50 years in prison after guilty plea

Cody Balmer admitted to setting the Pennsylvania governor's mansion ablaze, causing millions in damage

A man who scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and used beer bottles filled with gasoline to ignite the occupied mansion of Pennsylvania governor, Josh Shapiro, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges.

Cody Balmer, 38, also entered pleas to terrorism, 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault of Shapiro, 21 counts of reckless endangerment and loitering on 13 April. The fire resulted in millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned brick building.

Guardian staff contributed reporting