Santa Maria man pleads not guilty in federal courthouse bombing case

A 20-year-old Santa Maria man pleaded not guilty during a federal court hearing to charges related to the bombing of the Santa Maria court complex last month.

Nathaniel McGuire’s indictment hearing came days after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges of using a weapon of mass destruction, intentionally damaging a building with explosives and possessing an unregistered destructive device. US Attorney’s Office.

On the morning of September 25, McGuire appeared at the court complex for a hearing on a weapons charge brought against him over the summer.

He entered the building and threw a bag in the hall, which exploded.

The explosion injured at least five people who were near the bomb when it exploded.

Employees of the operational court security service and law enforcement officers pulled McGuire behind his red Ford Mustang in the parking lot.

Authorities reportedly have video footage of the incident and its aftermath.

During a hearing in US District Court on Friday in Los Angeles, a judge tentatively set a trial date for December 17.

McGuire remains in federal custody.

After his federal case is resolved, McGuire also faces eight felony and two misdemeanor charges of Santa Barbara County Superior Court which comes from bombing.