LOS ANGELES — A California man has been hit with additional charges in a bomb attack on the courthouse that injured five people, officials said Tuesday, including for three local fires.
Nathaniel McGuire, 20, was charged by federal officials last week with intentionally damaging a building with an explosive device. Santa Barbara County prosecutors are charging him with 10 counts, including two counts of attempted murder, use of an explosive device with intent to murder and carrying a loaded firearm.
He is also charged with wildland arson in connection with three fires on the outskirts of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 in California’s central coastal region, that officials say were set in preparation for the courthouse attack.
It was not immediately known if McGuire had an attorney for his local charges. His federal public defender Iboh Umodu declined to comment on his federal case. His family did not return calls or messages for comment.
McGuire was arrested Sept. 25 at the Santa Maria Courthouse where he was about to be arraigned on a charge of illegal gun possession when an explosion damaged the building and injured five people. Authorities said McGuire threw a bag into the courthouse lobby, which exploded, and he left the building on foot. He was arrested when he tried to get into his car, which was parked nearby.
Authorities said they later found ammunition, a rifle, a suspected bomb, fireworks and 10 Molotov cocktails inside the car and other materials used to make explosives during a search of McGuire’s home.
In a federal court filing, federal authorities said McGuire told police after his arrest that he had gone to the courthouse and planned to kill deputies working at the security desk. Authorities said he told them he planned to go back to the car to retrieve several loaded firearms and re-enter the courthouse to kill a judge.
At his trial on Friday, he had an outburst shouting about world events and blaming the US government. He said he had no rights and was “censored” from speaking out.
“You’re the real criminals,” McGuire yelled, visibly distressed as his defense attorney tried to calm him down.
McGuire is being held without bail in federal custody. Following his federal case, he will be transported back to Santa Barbara County to face the additional charges.