Overview

• A federal criminal complaint unsealed on July 31 charges Tillman with malicious destruction of government property by fire after he rammed and set ablaze the Almaden Valley post office on July 20.
• Investigators allege he placed “instalogs” soaked in lighter fluid inside his car, backed into the lobby, ignited the vehicle, and partially destroyed the building.
• Tillman told officers he livestreamed the fire on YouTube and spray-painted “Viva La Me” on the building to send a message to the U.S. government.
• He remains in federal custody and faces between five and 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine if convicted under federal sentencing guidelines.
• Defense attorneys have questioned his mental competency against a backdrop of longstanding struggles to secure adequate care, prompting Santa Clara County to suspend local arson charges pending evaluations.