Tesla Terrorist Pleads Not Guilty, Gets Trial Date

Posted on: April 15, 2025, 07:54h.

Last updated on: April 15, 2025, 07:57h.

Corey Levitan Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

The man accused of firebombing at least five Teslas pleaded not guilty to arson, attempted arson and possessing an unregistered firearm in federal court on Tuesday.

Social media photos of Paul Hyron Kim, who is accused of a “targeted attack” against Teslas parked at a Las Vegas service center on March 18.. (Images: LVMPD)

Prosecutors claim Paul Hyon Kim, a 36-year-old activist and communist who lives in Las Vegas, hurled Molotov cocktails and shot a gun into the empty vehicles, which were parked at a Las Vegas Tesla service center on March 18.

Multiple Tesla vehicles were set ablaze by Molotov cocktails and riddled with bullets on March 18, an act declared “domestic terrorism” by Attorney General Pam Bondi. (Image: LVMPD)

US Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts scheduled a trial to begin on June 17. Judge Jennifer Dorsey will preside.

Kim was indicted last Wednesday by a federal grand jury. He was arrested on March 26 on state charges including arson and possessing an explosive device, but is not due in court on those charges until August.

Judge Albergts confirmed that Kim had read the indictment, then ordered Kim to remain in custody.

Kim’s attorneys claimed that a court-provided Korean translator at a previous detention hearing inadequately translated testimony from Kim’s mother regarding their relationship, which contributed to a judge’s decision to detain Kim pending trial.