LOS ANGELES
A three-count federal grand jury indictment returned Wednesday charges a Santa Barbara County man with committing a bomb attack at a courthouse in Santa Maria in which several people were injured, officials stated.
Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, of Santa Maria, was charged with one count of using a weapon of mass destruction, one count of maliciously damaging a building by means of explosives, and one count of possessing unregistered destructive devices. McGuire has been in custody since his arrest in September, shortly after the attack.
If convicted of all charges, McGuire faces up to life in prison. McGuire is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
“Any time an individual commits such an act of terror, victims are traumatized, and there is a potential for tragic consequences,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “If convicted, Mr. McGuire faces significant prison time thanks to the combined efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners.”
According to court records, on Sept. 25, McGuire entered the Santa Barbara County Superior Court and threw a bag into the lobby. The bag exploded, injuring at least five people nearby, and McGuire fled the courthouse on foot.
As he tried to enter a red Ford Mustang parked outside, law enforcement quickly apprehended him. McGuire allegedly shouted that the government had taken his guns and called for people to fight and rebel.
Inside the car, officers found ammunition, a flare gun, and a box of fireworks. A more thorough search uncovered a shotgun, rifle, more ammunition, a suspected bomb, and 10 Molotov cocktails, which were later rendered safe. McGuire told authorities he had planned to return to the courthouse with the firearms to kill a judge.
A search of his home revealed an empty can with nails glued to it, a duffel bag containing matches, black powder, used and unused fireworks, and papers with what appeared to be bomb-making instructions.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said: “This crime shocked our entire community and we are pleased to see that the suspect in this case is being held accountable.”
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santa Maria Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Takla and Kathrynne N. Seiden of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section are prosecuting this case