Teen Charged in Tesla Arson Released for Gender-Affirming Care

Owen McIntire, a 19-year-old University of Massachusetts student, was released from federal custody after being charged with firebombing a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri, where two Cybertrucks and charging stations were damaged. The judge's decision to grant home detention was based partly on McIntire's need to continue gender-affirming medical care, as well as treatment for autism spectrum disorder, depression, and ADHD, which his attorneys argued could not be adequately provided in jail. Prosecutors had sought to keep McIntire in detention due to the severity of the charges and public safety concerns, labeling the alleged attack as terrorism-related, but the judge was persuaded by the defense that his medical and mental health needs required community-based care. McIntire must remain under his parents' supervision, participate in a mental health program, and comply with strict confinement and electronic monitoring while awaiting trial. He is also prohibited from visiting Tesla dealerships. The case has sparked debate about the intersection of criminal justice, public safety, and access to medical care for individuals awaiting trial.