Accused Santa Maria courthouse bomber wanted to kill judge, others

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

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

McGuire was charged Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office with maliciously damaging a building by means of explosive. He is scheduled to appear Friday in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California. U.S.A. v. Nathaniel J. McGuire, 2:24-MJ-05907, (C.D. Cal., filed Sept. 26, 2024).

According to authorities, McGuire entered the courthouse and threw a bag into the lobby, which exploded. 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.

"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.

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.