Nathaniel James McGuire, 22, of Santa Maria, has pleaded guilty to one count of use of a weapon of mass destruction and one count of malicious destruction of a building using an explosive. According to his plea agreement, on Sept. 24, 2024, McGuire knowingly detonated a bomb in the Santa Maria courthouse, which serves the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
McGuire walked into the courthouse and threw a backpack containing an explosive device past the security screening device and towards Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies. The bomb slid between a victim’s legs and detonated in the building outside a courtroom, resulting in personal injuries to three victims.
Five people were hospitalized and released the same day. McGuire admitted in his plea agreement that he detonated the bomb with the intent to kill the sheriff’s deputies. After the bomb exploded, McGuire left to retrieve two long guns and 10 Molotov cocktails from his vehicle and intended to re-enter the courthouse to kill sheriff’s deputies and kill a judge.
A courthouse security guard and several law enforcement officers stopped McGuire at his vehicle. McGuire admitted to maliciously damaging the courthouse, which sustained approximately $35,000 in damages and had to be closed for several days.
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McGuire is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2027, and will face a maximum penalty of life in prison. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, and Santa Maria Police Department are investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark P. Takla and Kathrynne N. Seiden for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Su for the Central District of California and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said, “McGuire launched a vicious, terroristic assault on a court of law with the intent to kill law enforcement officers and a judge.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California added, “Individuals who use bombs against law enforcement officials, judges, and other government personnel must be held accountable and face severe punishment for their actions.”
McGuire’s actions were reportedly in retaliation for various alleged government wrongs, including Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies seizing his firearms earlier that year. A search of McGuire’s residence resulted in the seizure of other materials related to his bomb making. McGuire’s actions have had a significant impact on the community, and the consequences of his actions will be severe.
They will determine the severity of his punishment at his sentencing hearing.
