Owen McIntyre, a 19-year-old, faces a potential 30-year prison sentence for allegedly bombing a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri.
McIntyre is accused of targeting two electric vehicles at the dealership back in March. Reports indicate he was labeled as “transgender” by authorities recently.
The teenager, who was undergoing gender-affirming care during the incident, denied charges of malicious property destruction and illegal possession of unregistered explosive devices.
One of the accusations carries a mandatory five-year prison term. If convicted on all counts, he could remain incarcerated for 30 years, meaning he would be 49 years old upon release.
The case was escalated to the Department of Justice’s National Security Agency after Attorney General Pam Bondy described it as part of a wave of domestic terrorism.
Interestingly, McIntyre isn’t the only person implicated in attacks against Tesla dealerships, which seemed to be linked to the relationship between Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump.
In March, Trump reportedly criticized “she/they” pronouns while accusing those supporting “trans rights” of vandalizing Tesla locations and undermining sales.
After McIntyre’s arrest, it was suggested that he was wearing women’s clothing at the time of the incident.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi made it clear that those targeting Tesla’s property wouldn’t escape legal consequences, stating, “You will be arrested. You will be charged. You will spend decades in prison. It’s not worth it.”
In late April, a federal judge allowed McIntyre to be released from custody before the trial, citing his lack of a criminal background and strong community ties.
It was also reported that McIntyre had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, depression, and feelings of gender discomfort.
