Illinois man sentenced to 5 years in prison for trying to destroy downstate abortion clinic
The proposed site of an abortion clinic at 600 N. Logan Avenue sits empty on May 2, 2023, in downstate Danville, Illinois. - Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

An Illinois man was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday for trying to prevent the opening of an abortion clinic in downstate Danville by crashing his car into the building and attempting to set it on fire, an act that reproductive health care advocates say has been part of a spike in violence and harassment against such facilities since the end of Roe v. Wade.

Philip Buyno, 73, of Prophetstown was also ordered to pay more than $300,000 restitution, the Justice Department said in a statement.