{"id":61762,"date":"2026-09-14T15:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T22:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61762"},"modified":"2026-09-14T16:09:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T23:09:08","slug":"california-man-pleads-guilty-in-courthouse-bombing-intending-to-kill-sheriffs-deputies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61762","title":{"rendered":"California Man Pleads Guilty in Courthouse Bombing, Intending to Kill Sheriff’s Deputies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Santa Barbara County Superior Court building<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 RIVERSIDE, Calif.<\/strong> \u2014 A Santa Maria man pleaded guilty Monday to detonating a bomb inside the Santa Barbara County Superior Court building in 2024 in an attack intended to kill sheriff\u2019s deputies, federal prosecutors said.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bombing injured three people, sent five people to the hospital and caused approximately $35,000 in damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nathaniel James McGuire, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of using a weapon of mass destruction and one count of malicious destruction of a building using an explosive. He has remained in federal custody since September 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to his plea agreement, McGuire entered the Santa Maria courthouse carrying a backpack containing an explosive device. He threw the backpack past the security screening area toward Santa Barbara County sheriff\u2019s deputies.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bomb slid between a victim\u2019s legs and exploded outside a courtroom. Five people were hospitalized and released the same day. Three suffered injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"McGuire admitted that he detonated the bomb intending to kill the deputies.<\/span><\/p>\n

After the explosion, McGuire returned to his vehicle to retrieve two long guns and 10 Molotov cocktails, prosecutors said. He intended to re-enter the courthouse, kill sheriff\u2019s deputies and \u201csplatter,\u201d or kill, a judge.<\/span><\/p>\n

A courthouse security guard and several law enforcement officers stopped McGuire at his vehicle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg described the bombing as a \u201cvicious, terroristic assault on a court of law.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n