SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — A Utah man has been federally charged with arson after he allegedly tried to set three different buildings on fire that are owned by either local or federal government entities.
A true bill of indictment was returned last Wednesday on Johnny Martinez Medina. He was charged with three counts of arson. According to documents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Medina reportedly tried to set the Orrin G. Hatch Federal Courthouse, Salt Lake City International Airport , and the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building on fire. Two of the buildings are owned by the United States government, and the other is owned by Salt Lake City.
The airport, while owned by Salt Lake City also houses TSA, which is a federal agency.
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The U.S. Attorney alleges that in September, Medina attempted to burn all three of the prior named properties down across nine days. Charging documents allege Medina targeted the Federal Courthouse on Sept. 13, the airport on Sept. 21, and the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building on Sept. 22.