FBI says accused Santa Maria court bomber wanted to kill judge

A 20-year-old Santa Maria man accused of detonating an explosive device inside the Santa Maria courthouse wanted to kill a judge and others, the FBI said.

Nathaniel James McGuire was arrested shortly after the attack on Wednesday that injured at least five people. He was at the courthouse to be arraigned before Judge John F. McGregor on a gun charge from July. No judges were injured in the bombing.

"This defendant's alleged misconduct was chilling. Not only did he injure five people and traumatize many more, but he possessed a cache of weapons that would have allowed him to wreak even greater destruction had he not been stopped," U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement.

The bombing is the latest in a series of escalating threats against judges and courthouses in recent years, fueled by heightened political tensions, social unrest, and the growing spread of online threats. In 2023 alone, the U.S. Marshals investigated 457 serious threats against federal judges, more than double the number from just two years prior.

In June, the U.S. Senate passed that "Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act," that would create a State Judicial Threat Intelligence and Resource Center to provide technical assistance, training, and monitoring of threats to judicial personnel, and conduct research to improve security practices. The U.S. House has not approved the legislation.

McGuire was charged Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office with maliciously damaging a building by means of explosive. U.S.A. v. McGuire, 2:24-MJ-05907, (C.D. Calif., filed Sept. 26, 2024)

U.S. Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin ordered McGuire jailed without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 18 in Los Angeles.

According to authorities, McGuire entered the courthouse and threw a bag past the security checkpoint toward the door to Department 9, which is McGregor's court. A photograph attached to the criminal complaint shows burn marks on the door.

He fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement in the parking lot. According to the criminal complaint, McGuire told FBI agents that he had planned to kill deputies working at the courthouse security desk and intended to return to his car to retrieve more weapons before reentering the building to target a judge.

A search of McGuire's car turned up a cache of weapons, including firearms, ammunition, and what appeared to be homemade explosives. Additional evidence was found at his residence, including materials consistent with bomb-making, authorities said.

According to the complaint, as McGuire was being taken into custody, he yelled that the government had taken his guns and that everyone needed to fight, rise up, and rebel.

If convicted, McGuire could face up to 40 years in federal prison. The investigation is ongoing, led by the FBI and Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.