Santa Maria courthouse bombing suspect pleads not guilty to federal charges

A 20-year-old Santa Maria man pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court to charges related to the bombing of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court building in Santa Maria last month.

Nathaniel McGuire is charged with using a weapon of mass destruction, maliciously damaging a building with an explosive and possessing an unregistered destructive device.

On Sept. 25, McGuire threw a bag into the courthouse lobby, detonating an explosive device, injuring five people, authorities said. It is alleged that he had additional weapons in his car and planned to kill the judge.

McGuire was scheduled to appear in court the same day after his arrest earlier this summer for firearms violations.

The trial on the three federal charges will take place in December.

McGuire also faces numerous charges brought against him by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, including attempted murder, use of an explosive device with intent to commit murder, use of an explosive device for the purpose of terror, use of an explosive device causing bodily injury, arson with fuel and possession of a loaded firearms.