Man Gets 8 Years in Bar Bombing

LANCASTER — A Lancaster man who pleaded guilty to bombing a local gay bar was sentenced to eight years and four months in state prison Friday, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said.

Geoffrey Barr, 22, will probably spend about half of that time in jail for the Oct. 3 attack on the Back Door Bar, according to authorities. Superior Court Judge J. Stephen Czuleger could have sentenced Barr to as much as 13 years.

Barr pleaded guilty to one count of exploding a destructive device to cause bodily injury, which included an allegation it was used in the commission of a hate crime. In addition Barr pleaded guilty to one count each of receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana for sale.

“The sentence was reasonable and just,” said Los Angeles Deputy Dist. Atty. Carla Arranaga of the Hate Crimes Division, noting Barr had no prior criminal record.

But she added that even though one victim suffered minor injuries, the sentence sent a strong message. “When you commit a hate crime against a particularly vulnerable victim, there is a price to be paid.”