Santa Maria Man Charged in Courthouse Bombing

Nathaniel James McGuire, a 20-year-old from Santa Maria, has been charged with maliciously damaging a building by means of an explosive after allegedly detonating a bomb at the Santa Barbara County Superior Court, injuring five individuals. The incident occurred as McGuire was scheduled to appear for a firearms-related charge, during which he threw an explosive device into the courthouse lobby before attempting to flee. Law enforcement apprehended him near his parked Ford Mustang, where a search revealed a cache of weapons including firearms, a suspected bomb, and 10 Molotov cocktails. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the attack as 'chilling,' emphasizing the potential for greater destruction had McGuire not been stopped. If convicted, he faces a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison. The FBI and local authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.