Judge orders mental health evaluation for California man charged in courthouse explosion

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Friday ordered a mental health evaluation of a man who was arrested after an explosive exploded in a courthouse, injuring five people, and who officials said had told law enforcement that he had planned to kill officials and a judge in the building.

U.S. Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin in Los Angeles ordered the sentencing after 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire threw a tantrum at his arraignment hearing, shouting about world events and blaming the government. The outburst came as prosecutors requested that he remain in custody. McGuire has not entered a plea and will have another arraignment hearing on October 18. His defense also recommended a separate medical examination.

McGuire was charged with malicious damage to a building with an explosive, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles said in a statement.

McGuire was arrested outside the courthouse on Wednesday in the city of Santa Maria after he threw the bag while screaming “freedom or death,” according to court documents. McGuire was arrested last July on suspicion of illegal weapons possession should be charged in the courthouse.

Five people were injured in the explosion, three of whom suffered burns. All were treated and released.

Santa Barbara County authorities evacuated a five-block radius of businesses, homes and a school after the explosion in Santa Maria, home to about 110,000 people in the central coastal region.

Federal public defender Iboh Umodu, who is representing McGuire, declined to comment.

McGuire told law enforcement after his arrest that he went to the courthouse to kill officers working the security desk, then returned to his car to get weapons and re-enter the courthouse to meet a judge kill, federal officials said.

McGuire was arrested as he tried to get into his car parked nearby and “yelled that the government had taken his weapons and that everyone needed to fight, rise up and rebel,” the statement said.

At the arraignment, McGuire also said he was “censored” from speaking out.

“You are the real criminals,” McGuire shouted, appearing visibly distressed as his defense attorney tried to calm him down.

Authorities said they later found ammunition, a rifle, a suspected bomb, fireworks and 10 Molotov cocktails in the car, as well as other materials used to make explosives, during a search of McGuire's home.

“The idea of ​​intentionally detonating an explosive device to cause harm while avoiding justice shocks the conscience,” Akil Davis, assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, said in the statement.

The courthouse was closed and will reopen Monday.