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Federal judge sets trial date for Northland teen charged in Kansas City Tesla arson case

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A federal judge set a trial date in 2026 in the case against a Northland teen charged with setting two Tesla Cybertrucks on fire earlier this year.

Owen McIntire, 19, was charged in April with malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm in connection with the burning of two Cybertrucks at the Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri.

Federal prosecutors allege McIntire, who was home on spring break during the alleged offense, used a Molotov cocktail late in the evening on March 17 to set the two vehicles on fire.

FBI, ATF, KCPD continue investigation of Cybertruck fire at Kansas City Tesla dealership

Court documents filed in support of the charges said surveillance video was key in identifying McIntire as the suspect.

KSHB 41 News reporter Charlie Keegan spoke with the woman who took the video that helped break the investigation. You can watch his story in the video player below.

KSHB 41 News exclusive: Woman’s surveillance footage helped FBI find Tesla fire suspect

Judge Jill A. Morris ruled Monday to set the trial date for Aug. 10, 2026, after receiving a request for a delay from McIntire’s attorneys. The attorneys said they needed more time to “obtain and review discovery, contemplate and prepare necessary motions, engage experts, and otherwise prepare for trial.”

In late April, a judge allowed McIntire to post bond in the case while awaiting trial.

A pretrial conference is set for July 22, 2026.

If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.