Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 | 1:08 p.m.
A 32-year-old man who authorities allege expressed anger online that he was turned away from buying a gun is in federal custody after being charged with setting fire last month to the front of a federal building in Las Vegas.
Marty Clark of Las Vegas remained in federal custody Tuesday after his arrest and initial appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas on arson and malicious damage charges in the Nov. 7 fire at the Foley Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.
A preliminary hearing of evidence is scheduled Jan. 4.
Wendi Overmyer, the assistant federal public defender appointed to Clark’s case, did not immediately respond to messages.
According to the criminal complaint, a security officer saw flames erupt about 3:20 a.m. at the Las Vegas Boulevard building and scuffled with Clark, who declared he had a right to protest before dropping a fuel can, losing his eyeglasses and getting in a white car and driving away.
Flames were quickly doused after charring plywood erected in front of the building entrance amid protests in the summer spurred by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.
The courthouse security officer photographed the fleeing driver in the white car but did not see the license plate, the court filing said.
A DNA match from the glasses and tips from the public identified Clark, who was named Dec. 11 in a sealed complaint. He was arrested Dec. 16.
If convicted, Clark could face five to 20 years in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Trutanich said.
A U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigator said a review of Facebook postings suggested Clark was rejected by the U.S. Marines and angry with the ATF because he had been turned down from purchasing a gun.
“They're getting fired,” he said.
