A Massachusetts college student, Owen McIntire, has been released from custody following charges of setting fire to Tesla vehicles and chargers in Missouri.
The 19-year-old, who identifies as transgender, was granted home detention to continue with sex change procedures initiated in the same month as the alleged incidents. McIntire's attorney successfully argued for her release, citing medical and mental health needs, including ongoing gender-affirming care.
According to the Daily Caller, McIntire's legal team emphasized her medical vulnerabilities, noting her daily medication regimen for depression and ADHD. The attorney highlighted McIntire's compliance with treatment and the potential disruption of her gender-affirming care if she remained in detention. The motion also underscored McIntire's strong community ties in Boston, portraying her as an active student with a history in ballet and a recent realization of her transgender identity.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused McIntire of firebombing Tesla vehicles and charging stations during a spring break trip in March, coinciding with the start of her gender-affirming procedures. The DOJ suggested possible political motivations behind the attacks, a claim McIntire's attorney dismissed as speculative. The defense argued that McIntire, a first-year college student with no criminal record, poses no flight risk, particularly given her lack of a valid passport.
McIntire faces serious charges, including unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage to property by fire. She is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday. The DOJ and McIntire's attorney did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The case is part of a broader pattern of alleged anti-Tesla attacks involving transgender individuals since President Donald Trump resumed office. Alongside McIntire, several other defendants, including a self-described "queer" scientist, have been charged with similar acts of vandalism against Tesla. The Trump administration has responded by establishing a law enforcement task force to address these purported politically motivated attacks on the company.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a press release, underscored the DOJ's commitment to prosecuting domestic terrorism. "If you engage in domestic terrorism, this Department of Justice will find you, follow the facts, and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law," Bondi stated, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach with "no negotiating."
The unfolding legal proceedings against McIntire and others highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, particularly in the context of the Trump administration's policies and priorities. As the case progresses, questions remain about the motivations behind these attacks and the broader implications for law enforcement and political discourse.
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