A startling episode of judicial leniency has unfolded in Missouri, raising eyebrows and concerns about the integrity of the criminal justice system.
As reported by KSHB on Wednesday, a judge’s decision has left many questioning the boundaries of justice. United States Magistrate Judge Jessica Hedges has ordered the release of 19-year-old Owen McIntire, who is facing federal charges for allegedly firebombing two Tesla Cybertrucks and charging stations in Kansas City.
In a ruling that seems to sidestep the gravity of the situation, Judge Hedges upheld the defense’s impassioned arguments for leniency, suggesting that keeping McIntire incarcerated before trial was unjust.
Documents obtained by FOX4 reveal the defense’s rationale for McIntire’s release, which notably includes claims of ongoing medical needs related to depression and what they termed “gender-affirming care.”
Indeed, McIntire’s legal team contended that his transition process toward becoming a woman warranted his freedom, a point that the judge accepted.
FOX 4 Kansas City reported the specifics:
According to federal court documents, McIntire’s attorney argued he should be released, citing several “serious and ongoing” medical needs and treatments that McIntire’s attorney believed could not or would not be provided while in federal detention.
The defense filing states McIntire is undergoing treatment for depression and is receiving gender-affirming care that began in March of this year — and that care would likely be interrupted or terminated in federal custody.
McIntire’s attorney also cited his client’s lack of a criminal history and deep ties to the Kansas City area community as reasons he would not be a flight risk. He was arrested earlier this month in Boston.
As KSHB noted, McIntire’s travel is restricted to the Western District of Missouri, as well as Wyandotte and Johnson counties. One might argue that a more fitting restriction would be a confinement to a prison cell, given the alleged severity of his actions.
The incidents attributed to McIntire took place on March 17 at approximately 11:16 p.m., at a car dealership located at 10111 State Line Road, as outlined in court documents.
The filing asserts that McIntire utilized makeshift incendiary devices—specifically, empty apple cider vinegar bottles filled with gasoline and dish towels—to carry out his alleged acts of arson. Although one of the devices failed to ignite, the damage to two Cybertrucks and two charging stations was significant.
KSHB reports that McIntire faces federal charges for malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm. He is scheduled to return to the United States Federal Courthouse in Kansas City, Missouri, for a hearing at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 1.
