In a case that’s becoming a flashpoint in debates over public safety, mental health, and the justice system’s handling of politically charged crimes, Owen McIntire, the 19-year-old University of Massachusetts student accused of firebombing a Tesla dealership, has been released from federal custody—not due to lack of evidence, but because of medical necessity.
On the night of March 17, McIntire allegedly launched an arson attack against a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri, using Molotov cocktails to ignite two Cybertrucks and damage nearby charging stations. The attack caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Surveillance footage, witness statements, and digital tracking reportedly placed him at the scene, and a DNA match to a hat recovered nearby further linked McIntire to the incident.
Federal authorities were quick to act. McIntire was arrested at his university campus and charged with:
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Malicious damage by fire to property used in interstate commerce
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Unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device
Each charge carries serious penalties, and with the Trump administration reclassifying such attacks as domestic terrorism, officials made it clear: they intended to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law.
Despite the gravity of the charges, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica Hedges, a 2024 appointee, granted McIntire’s release on April 24, citing “serious and ongoing” medical needs. According to filings, McIntire requires:
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Daily gender-affirming medical treatment
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Medication for autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and depression
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Ongoing mental health support from providers familiar with his care history
The defense argued that federal detention would disrupt this treatment and that McIntire would be better served living at home under parental supervision. Judge Hedges agreed, despite objections from U.S. attorneys who labeled McIntire a public safety threat and urged continued detention due to the terrorism-related nature of the attack.
As a condition of release, McIntire is now:
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Under house arrest in Parkville, Missouri
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Subject to electronic monitoring
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Required to participate in mental health programs
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Barred from entering any Tesla facility
Attorney General Pam Bondi minced no words at the time of the arrest. “Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us… You will spend decades behind bars. It’s not worth it.”
While Bondi’s warning was aimed broadly, McIntire’s release has provoked criticism, especially from those who view the ruling as prioritizing identity-driven accommodations over accountability for violent crime. Others see it as a reflection of a legal system struggling to balance healthcare access with the demands of justice in complex, high-profile cases.
