A local college student who was arrested by the feds for allegedly torching Teslas in a “deliberate and dangerous arson attack” was released after his attorney argued that he needs to receive gender-affirming care in the community.

UMass Boston student Owen McIntire, 19, is facing federal charges after he allegedly set two Cybertruck vehicles on fire at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri.

McIntire was arrested a couple of weeks ago, and he has been released from federal custody as the judge allows him to stay at home in Missouri.

His federal defender, Curtis Pouliot-Alvarez, pushed for McIntire’s release from pretrial detention.

“Owen McIntire is an adolescent first-year college student with no criminal history, deep ties to his community, and a stable, supportive home environment waiting for him,” his attorney wrote. “He has well-documented medical and mental health needs—including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, depression, and gender dysphoria—that require ongoing care and structure, which can only be provided in the community.”

“Medically, Owen faces serious and ongoing needs,” his lawyer added. “He takes daily medications for depression and ADHD and has consistently demonstrated insight into his diagnoses and compliance with his treatment. He also receives gender-affirming medical care, which began in March of this year and is likely to be interrupted or terminated entirely if he remains in pretrial detention. This care, along with mental health support, is integral to his wellbeing. By moving back home with his parents, he will have access to the care providers who are familiar with him and his specific needs.”

McIntire was granted home detention under his parents’ supervision, and he was ordered to stay away from Tesla dealerships.

He also must participate in a mental health program, and he was ordered to take all prescribed mental health medication.

McIntire was back home in K.C. for spring break last month when he’s accused of using a Molotov cocktail to light a grey Cybertruck on fire. The blaze spread to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Also, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at about $550.

He was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device, and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

The high-profile case led to comments from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said, “Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said, “This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts. These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.”

Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives called it a “deliberate and dangerous arson attack.”

Tesla vehicles and dealerships have been vandalized across the country amid anti-DOGE protests at Elon Musk’s Tesla stores.

President Trump and cost-cutting chief Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency have been moving to slash the size of the federal government through large-scale layoffs, contract cancellations and other moves.

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Demonstrators have been gathering outside Tesla stores to protest the automaker’s billionaire CEO, and his push to slash government spending.

Herald wire services were used in this report.