A Fairfield man was convicted today of a 2011 car bombing targeting a former tenant.
Daniel Ricahrd Garcia, 30, was found guilty of malicious use of explosives, possession of a destructive device in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of possession of unregistered destructive devices, according to a federal Department of Justice news release. The guilty verdict was returned by a federal court jury in Sacramento after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton.
According to testimony presented at trial, about 1 a.m. May 27, Garcia placed a bomb underneath a sport utility vehicle parked next to an apartment building in Fairfield. The bomb detonated, causing a fireball and sending shrapnel into the car and the nearby apartment building where two young children were sleeping. Investigators were able to piece together parts of the bomb and link them to Garcia.
The targeted vehicle belonged to Garcia's former tenant. Officials said Garcia was angry that the tenant had taken a cable box and left behind trash when moving out of the rental property. Garcia testified during the trial that he had become "numb" about the dispute.
Garcia was arrested two days after the car bombing, following a stand-off with police.
He is to be sentenced April 3.
The case resulted from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Fairfield Police Department; and the Yolo County Bomb Squad.
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