Man charged in Southern California courthouse explosion also charged with 3 arsons

LOS ANGELES — A California man faced additional charges in a courthouse bombing that injured five people, officials said Tuesday, including three local arsons.

Nathaniel McGuire, 20, was charged last week by federal officials with maliciously damaging a building with an explosive. Santa Barbara County prosecutors charge him with 10 counts, including two counts of attempted murder, using an explosive device with intent to commit murder and carrying a loaded firearm .

He is also charged with arson of forest land in connection with three fires on the outskirts of Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 in California’s central coastal region, which authorities say were provoked in preparation for the attack on the courthouse.

It was not immediately known whether 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 respond to calls or messages for comment.

McGuire was arrested Sept. 25 at the Santa Maria Courthouse, where he was about to be arraigned on illegal gun possession charges when an explosion damaged the building and injured five people. Authorities said McGuire threw a bag in the courthouse lobby that exploded and he left the building on foot. He was arrested while trying to get into his car, parked nearby.

Authorities said they later found ammunition, a rifle, a suspected bomb, fireworks and 10 Molotov cocktails inside the car along with other materials used in making explosives during a search of McGuire’s home.

In a federal court filing, federal authorities said McGuire told law enforcement after his arrest that he went to the courthouse with the intention of killing deputies working at the police office. security. Authorities said he told them he planned to return to the car to retrieve several loaded guns and drive back into the courthouse to kill a judge.

At his arraignment last Friday, he had an outburst, shouting about world events and blaming the U.S. government. He said he had no rights and was “censored” from speaking out.

“You are the real criminals,” McGuire shouted, appearing visibly distressed as his lawyer tried to calm him down.

McGuire is being held without bail in federal custody. After his federal trial, he will be brought back to Santa Barbara County to face the additional charges.