White Man Who Planted Bombs At BLM Protest Sentenced To Probation. A white, would-be bomber avoided jail time after getting sentenced to probation and house arrest this week.

On May 31, 2020, the streets of downtown Pittsburgh were a chaotic scene after protests broke out following the murder of George Floyd just six days prior.

The following morning, Matthew Michanowicz rode his bike to the scene downtown to examine the aftermath. The 53-year-old wheeled up to the plaza of a skyscraper, planting a backpack containing three homemade bombs inside underneath a bike rack, before taking off.

Police officers discovered the backpack after getting a tip about a suspicious bag. When they walked up to the bag, they smelled a strong odor and called the bomb squad who discovered the repurposed spray paint cans filled with gasoline. Michanowicz was swiftly identified, arrested, and charged.

The bombs never went off, but federal prosecutors argued they could have killed anyone passing by the downtown area.

In August, Michanowicz pleaded guilty to illegally possessing three destructive devices and was indicted.

On Monday (December 6), Michanowicz, facing a 10-year prison sentence, avoided more jail time, and was instead handed down a sentenced of three years' probation –– the first six months of which are to be served on house arrest.