A Colorado man, identified as Mohammed Reza Mesmarian, has been sentenced to a two to 10-year prison term in Nevada. His arrest, dating back to January of the previous year, stemmed from an incident where he set his car on fire at a remote facility.
Initially labeled a potential terror attack on the electric system supporting multiple Las Vegas Strip casinos, Mesmarian pleaded guilty but mentally ill to charges of felony arson and property destruction, as per ABC7 Denver .
Colorado Dentist Faces Scrutiny
According to court records, Mesmarian's sentencing followed his plea in November, and he received credit for nearly a year already spent in custody. The possibility of parole looms for early 2024. Despite Mesmarian's attorney, Jeffrey Nicholson, arguing that the act was more a manifestation of personal issues exacerbated by the challenges of COVID-19, the loss of marriage, and business setbacks, the judge, Ronald Israel, upheld the prison sentence, deeming it a fair decision.
In Aurora, Colorado, a dentist named Mohammed Reza Mesmarian, aged 35, has recently come under scrutiny. It has been revealed that Mesmarian had encountered disciplinary measures from the Dental Board, resulting in restrictions placed on his license to practice in July 2022.
Mesmarian has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2022, according to records. The current status of his dental license remains uncertain. Originally charged with terrorism, arson, destruction of property, and escape, Mesmarian spent months in custody while court proceedings assessed his competency to stand trial.
Authorities reported that the incident, which occurred at a remote desert solar array about 25 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas, did not result in injuries. The fire on January 4 went undetected initially, leading to Mesmarian's arrest a day later at a campground near Lake Mead, according to US News.
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Mesmarian's Arson, Previous Misconduct
Mesmarian engaged in a number of deliberate actions. These actions involved forcefully driving his car through a fence, subsequently colliding with a transformer, and intentionally igniting the vehicle. Shockingly, Mesmarian then proceeded to calmly observe the ensuing flames for an estimated duration of approximately 15 minutes before nonchalantly departing from the scene.
The Nevada incident occurred in the context of heightened concerns about the security of electrical infrastructure. It followed closely on the heels of the arrest of two individuals charged with vandalizing electrical substations in Washington state. Additionally, a month prior, federal regulators had ordered a review of security standards in response to shootings that damaged two electric substations in North Carolina.
The Mega Solar Array, the Las Vegas-area facility affected by Mesmarian's actions, is operated by Chicago-based Invenergy. It serves several MGM Resorts International properties, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Aria, and Park MGM.
Despite the disruption caused by Mesmarian's attack, MGM Resorts International promptly switched to the statewide electric grid, ensuring no impact on the casino resorts. Officials confirmed that the power facility returned to full service within days, Sentinel reported.
