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U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Man indicted in Mesa Tesla property fire, AG calls it ‘domestic terrorism’

A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Wednesday against a 35-year-old man in connection with a fire at a Mesa Tesla dealership.

William Moses of Mesa was indicted for maliciously damaging property and vehicles in interstate commerce by means of fire, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“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,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “No negotiating.”

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U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

Man indicted in Mesa Tesla property fire, AG calls it ‘domestic terrorism’

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A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment Wednesday against a 35-year-old man in connection with a fire at a Mesa Tesla dealership.

William Moses of Mesa was indicted for maliciously damaging property and vehicles in interstate commerce by means of fire, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

“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,” U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said. “No negotiating.”

Tesla owner Elon Musk is leading the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative of the Trump administration that is assigned with cutting federal spending. Suspects have been arrested in various parts of the country in connection with Tesla fires.

The charging documents filed in the case allege that Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on April 28, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, gray pants, black boots and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack, officials said.

“While in the Tesla parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark-colored bicycle shortly thereafter,” the release stated.

Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location,” authorities said.

“There is nothing American about burning down someone else’s business because you disagree with them politically,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “These ongoing attacks against Tesla are not protests, they are acts of violence that have no place in Arizona or anywhere else. If someone targets Tesla with violence, they will be found and confronted with the full force of the law.”

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said her office will be involved in the case. “We have a high level of success in prosecuting these types of crimes. My office stands ready to assist our federal law enforcement partners in the prosecution of this individual.”

Mesa Police Chief Ken Cost recognized the “efforts of the Superstition District Patrol officers who played a crucial role in this investigation. Their swift action in identifying and monitoring the suspicious van parked near the dealership was critical to the success of this operation.”

Each count of conviction for malicious damage to property in interstate commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years and up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. 

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.

 

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