Man faces new charges in Californian courthouse bomb explosion

LOS ANGELES, California: Prosecutors said this week that a man from California is facing new federal charges after being arrested in a courthouse bomb attack that injured five people in September.

Nathaniel McGuire, 20, has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction, maliciously damaging a building with an explosive, and possessing unregistered destructive devices, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said in a statement.

McGuire was arrested on September 25 after officials say he threw a bag with explosives into the lobby of a courthouse in Santa Maria, a city of about 110,000 in California's central coast region. He told law enforcement he had planned to kill deputies and a judge in the building, officials said.

At McGuire's arraignment last month, U.S. Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin in Los Angeles ordered a mental health evaluation for him after he had an outburst, yelling about world events and blaming the government. He did not enter a plea and has remained in custody since his arrest.

McGuire is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday. His legal representation, federal public defender Iboh Umodu, has not yet responded to an email request for comment.

McGuire was initially arrested in July on suspicion of illegal gun possession. While awaiting arraignment at the Santa Maria Courthouse, an explosion occurred nearby. Federal authorities reported that he was apprehended while attempting to enter his car, allegedly shouting that "the government had taken his guns" and calling on others to "fight, rise up, and rebel."

Inside McGuire's car, law enforcement reportedly discovered ammunition, a rifle, a shotgun, a suspected bomb, fireworks, and 10 Molotov cocktails. During a subsequent search of his home, authorities found an empty can with nails glued to its exterior, a duffel bag containing matches, black powder, fireworks, and documents believed to outline recipes for explosive materials.

According to a federal court filing, McGuire allegedly told authorities he intended to attack courthouse deputies and shouted "Liberty or Death" while discarding the bag. He reportedly planned to retrieve weapons from his car and re-enter the courthouse with the intent to target a judge.

Santa Barbara County prosecutors have additionally charged McGuire with ten counts, including two counts of attempted murder, possession of an explosive device with intent to kill, and carrying a loaded firearm. He also faces an arson charge for allegedly setting three fires on the outskirts of Santa Maria.