Overview

• Richard Tillman appeared Wednesday in Santa Clara County Superior Court for arraignment on felony arson, vandalism and explosives possession charges related to the early Sunday fire.
• At the hearing, he challenged his court-appointed lawyer, insisted he did not need bail and drew attention from cameras before bail was set.
• Prosecutors say he bought Insta-logs and lighter fluid, sprayed slogans on the building, livestreamed the crash and fire on YouTube and ignited the vehicle inside the Almaden Valley Post Office.
• Firefighters spent more than 90 minutes dousing flames that destroyed the facility and mail in over 900 PO boxes, prompting a U.S. Postal Inspection Service probe and temporary branch closure.
• Tillman’s family and mental health advocates emphasize his long-standing struggle to secure consistent psychiatric care amid broader gaps in community treatment services.