Man, 20, facing life in bombing of Southern California courthouse

A 20-year-old Santa Barbara County man accused of tossing a bomb inside a courthouse, injuring five people, on the same day he was to be arraigned on gun charges is now facing additional charges, officials with the United States Department of Justice announced Wednesday.  

The Sept. 25 incident unfolded just before 9 a.m. at a courthouse in Santa Maria.  

Authorities allege that Nathaniel McGuire, himself from Santa Maria, entered the facility and threw a bag at the security screening station.  

The bag exploded while McGuire, who was wearing body armor under his jacket, attempted to flee to his parked red Ford Mustang, but was apprehended by court security officer, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer.  

Following the explosion, local law enforcement and paramedics rushed to the scene after receiving word of at least two injuries. 

The number of victims eventually grew, with four people being transported to a local hospital, Bonner said. An additional victim later arrived at the hospital on their own, he added. 

Three of the people hospitalized suffered “physical” injuries, including burns, that were not believed to be life-threatening. All of the injured victims have since been treated and released, SBC Undersheriff Craig Bonner said at a press conference the same day.  

McGuire was uninjured during the blast.  

As he was being taken into custody, “McGuire allegedly yelled that the government had taken his guns and that everyone needed to fight, rise up, and rebel,” a DOJ news release stated.  

During a search of his vehicle, law enforcement recovered a flare gun, ammunition, a box of fireworks, a shotgun, rifle, a suspected bomb and 10 Molotov cocktails.  

“McGuire told law enforcement he intended to re-enter the courthouse with the firearms in order to kill a judge,” the release noted.  

In a search of his residence, investigators found an empty can with nails glued to the outside of it, a duffel bag carrying matches, black powder, used and unused fireworks, along with recipes for explosive material.  

The 20-year-old, according to a three-count federal indictment unsealed today, is being charged with one count of using a weapon of mass destruction, one count of maliciously damaging a building by means of explosive, and one count of possessing unregistered destructive devices.  

“The facts alleged in the indictment are disturbing,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The new charge of using a weapon of mass destruction underscores how seriously we are treating this misconduct and my office’s determination to hold accountable those who seek to bring violence upon our courts, law enforcement personnel, and the public.” 

McGuire has been in custody since his arrest shortly after the September attack and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles on Oct. 25.  

If convicted as charged, the 20-year-old faces a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.  

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the SBC Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Maria Police Department.