Suspect in Santa Maria courthouse bombing charged with 10 felonies
Already charged in federal court, the man accused of bombing Santa Maria Court Complex last week will face 10 criminal counts in Santa Barbara County including attempted murder, arson and more.
On Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against Nathaniel James McGuire, 20, of Santa Maria. It comes after the Department of Justice filed a federal criminal charge last week.
On the morning of Sept. 25, McGuire allegedly entered a Santa Maria court building and tossed a bag carrying an improved explosive device into the lobby, injuring at least five people and damaging the facility.
McGuire, who wore body armor, fled to his car in the parking lot, but was apprehended by security and law enforcement personnel.
Investigators also found a cache of weapons in his vehicle and at his residence in the Montiavo Apartments off Bradley Road.
On the morning of the explosion, McGuire was scheduled to be arraigned in court for a firearms-related charge.
Although they are within the city limits, the Santa Maria court facilities fall under the jurisdiction of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, which spearheaded the investigation. The FBI later joined the effort.
The newest criminal case against McGuire includes one count of attempted murder of a peace officer, identified as a sheriff’s deputy working as a bailiff at the complex, and another attempted murder charge with the victim identified as the Department 9 judge.
Other charges are explosion with intent to murder, terrorism, and explosion of a destructive device causing bodily injury, referring to a pair of victims identified as N. Ordaz and G. Hernandez.
A photo of the bombing scene showed a burned and blackened door with what appeared to be the bag lying in front of it.
As he was detained, McGuire allegedly “yelled that the government had taken his guns and that everyone needed to fight, rise up and rebel,” a news release at the time said.
Video circulated on social media afternoon, showing a man purported to be McGuire yelling profanities at law enforcement as they dragged him along a sidewalk.
According to the Department of Justice complaint, McGuire allegedly later told law enforcement that as he threw the bag into the courthouse, he yelled “Liberty or death!”
He said he then planned to go back to his car, where he said he would get a shotgun and Molotov cocktails and reenter the courthouse to kill a judge, the federal complaint alleged.
A search of McGuire’s car revealed a shotgun, a rifle, ammunition, a suspected bomb and 10 Molotov cocktails, the Department of Justice said, along with a flare gun and a box of fireworks.
A second suspected bomb found at his house was later rendered safe.
Additionally, the criminal complaint accuses McGuire of three counts of arson for recent fires in the 7300 block of Palmer Road, 6800 block of Palmer Road and 2400 block of Tepusquet Road.
The District Attorney’s Office also charged him with misdemeanors of carrying a loaded firearm on one’s person or in a vehicle, and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle. The weapons were a shotgun and a rifle, respectively.
Several special allegations, or sentencing enhancements, are included in the criminal complaint.
Last week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office charged McGuire with malicious damage to a building by means of an explosive device.
His arraignment is scheduled for later this month in Los Angeles.
However, additional charges could be added to the federal case.
Federal prosecutors often convene a federal grand jury to consider the evidence, which can lead to an indictment.
After initially being booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail, McGuire was transferred into federal custody late last week and is being held without bail.
The local criminal case will remain pending until any federal charges are adjudicated and McGuire is transported back to Santa Barbara County, the District Attorney’s Office said.
Santa Maria court operations restarted on Monday.
This story was originally published October 1, 2024 at 3:13 PM with the headline "Suspect in Santa Maria courthouse bombing charged with 10 felonies."