By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

A federal judge ruled Thursday that an out-of-state man charged with torching the Vermont office of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders in Burlington this month will remain behind bars.

Shant M. Soghomonian, 35, formerly of Northridge, Calif. is both a risk to flee and a danger to the community, Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ruled at the end of a detention hearing on Thursday.

Doyle also disclosed that just minutes before the detention hearing a federal grand jury in Burlington had formally indicted Soghomonian for using fire to maliciously damage 1 Church Street, where Sanders, the Independent Senator, has his Vermont office.

Assistant Federal Defender Mary Nerino said she had learned of the indictment about 5 minutes before the detention hearing.  Nerino told the court they wanted to postpone responding to the felony charge until she had more time to talk to her client about what plea he might want to make.

An arraignment date will be set by the court clerk’s office for next week before Doyle. The criminal case has been assigned to Senior Federal Judge William K. Sessions III in Burlington.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Lasher disclosed for the first time that Soghomonian has been living in Vermont since last July with no known job and was apparently being funded by his parents. Lasher noted Soghomonian was itinerant.  

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported early in the case they had determined he had lived for much of February and March at the former La Quinta Inn on Williston Road in South Burlington.

The ATF arrested Soghomonian at the Quality Inn in Shelburne following a one-night stay on the morning of April 7 as he prepared to leave.

Soghomonian faces a possible penalty of between 5 and 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, if convicted.  

After hearing arguments from Lasher and Nerino, Doyle ruled from the bench the defendant needed to be held for two reasons.

Doyle said he found by clear and convincing evidence that there were no conditions or combination of conditions that would allow the defendant’s safe release into the community.

He also ruled that by preponderance of the evidence there were no conditions to reasonably assure Soghomonian would appear for future court hearings.

Doyle also said he was concerned that Soghomonian had a serious mental health history and that he was not receiving treatment.

There were a few red flags during the hearing.  Soghomonian had self-reported to the FBI in Los Angeles that the government had been hacking into his devices and that he also had claimed drones were reading his mind.

Doyle eventually ruled there were enough reasons to detain the defendant, who also is known as Michael Soghomonian. 

The magistrate cited the weight of the evidence is strong against the defendant, he faces a lengthy sentence if convicted, he lacks stable employment, a proper residence and significant community or family ties.  Doyle noted Soghomonian also had tested positive for marijuana when checked by the Pre-Trial Services office.

During the hearing there was discussion about Soghomonian’s past use and recent possession of firearms.  Lasher said there was evidence of an apparent conviction when he was 16 years-old that involved an assault with a gun.  Details of the case apparently are under seal, but Nerino said she had reached out to the lawyer that handled the case.

Lasher said he had an AK-47 rifle with two magazines in his vehicle during a traffic stop last August by the Illinois State Police.

Police also recovered about 12 grams of cannabis, Lasher wrote in court papers.

Nerino said she and her client questioned why the gun was not returned.

Lasher said a subsequent attempt one week later to buy a gun in Pennsylvania by Soghomonian failed to go through and the prosecutor theorized it might be because of the earlier gun conviction in California.

Lasher said there appeared to have been a second attempt to buy a gun on January 24, but it was denied.  He had no details.   

Nerino said her client’s parents, Nora and Dick, were willing to have their son live with them in California.  His mother was willing to move to Vermont to be with him if he needed to stay locally, Nerino said.  She noted his father had attended an earlier court hearing.  

The ATF has reported Soghomonian entered the former Masonic Temple at 1 Church Street in Burlington on the morning of April 5 and went to the third floor where he was recorded on a security video spraying a liquid near the outer door of the Senator’s office.  He then used a handheld lighter to set the entrance on fire, the ATF said.  The suspect fled down the stairs

Sanders wasn’t there, but seven staff members for the senator were inside when the arsonist torched the office door about 10:45 a.m. Nobody was injured.

Lasher said the ATF later conducted court-ordered searches at his motel room in Shelburne and his 2019 blue Subaru Impreza parked outside following the arrest.

Among the items seized were clothing and sneakers that matched those worn by the arsonist, Lasher said.

The ATF also seized a City Market tote bag consistent with a bag shown in a security video outside the targeted building in the arson, Lasher said.  The bag had a handheld long-neck lighter, matches and fire starter materials, the veteran prosecutor said.

Among those attending the hearing was Peter McDougall, president of Paul Frank & Collins law firm, one of the other building tenants.

McDougall has said the law firm was able to keep operating on behalf of their clients.  He said a second floor conference room was damaged by leaking water.