Santa Maria Courthouse

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office is accusing the Santa Maria courthouse bombing suspect of a series of arson fires before the attack. 20-year-old Nathaniel McGuire, already in federal custody, now faces 10 additional state charges.

Starting now, bags and personal belongings will be searched before entering City Hall’s Council Chambers.

In a new filing, federal prosecutors said he admitted to investigators that his plan was to kill courthouse security with the bomb and then re-enter the building with a shotgun to kill the judge.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff officials are delving into the background of a man in custody for a bombing that sent five people to the hospital.

Nathanial McGwire, a 20-year-old man, is facing attempted murder and explosive charges after a bomb blast at the Santa Maria Courthouse Wednesday that injured six people.