Federal magistrate grants pretrial release to Tesla firebombing suspect despite objections

On Wednesday, a Salem man who was charged with trying to firebomb a Tesla shop in January and then coming back a month later to shoot the showroom with a firearm was granted pretrial release.

However, Adam Lansky, 41, will not be released from custody until Thursday at 5 p.m., which gives a federal prosecutor the opportunity to appeal the ruling in front of a different judge.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Parakram Singh, the government still thinks Lansky is a threat because his claimed attacks at the Salem Tesla store involved shooting dozens of shots from an AR-15-style rifle and creating and tossing Molotov bombs.

According to Singh, that wasn’t an isolated incident.

He added that Lansky took time to hide his identity.

According to court documents, a security guard was present near the Mission Street company during the second incident, even though the damage happened after three in the morning in January and February. There were no injuries.

Singh claims that Lansky, a former member of the Socialist Rifle Association, is skilled with firearms and knowledgeable with battle situations.

According to Singh, he created the explosives using commonplace materials like fabric, gasoline, and glass bottles.

According to court documents, on January 20, Lansky hurled another Molotov cocktail at the building, left four unused devices on the site, and launched two incendiary devices that destroyed a Cybertruck and a Tesla SUV. According to Singh, the assailant allegedly aimed a rifle at a witness.

According to a federal affidavit, police were called back to the dealership on February 19 after receiving a report of damage from gunshots that had been fired into the showroom and struck an automobile. According to the affidavit, surveillance footage revealed a car registered to Lansky in the area.

In a federal indictment, Lansky, who is being held at Yamhill County Jail, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of unauthorized possession of an unregistered destructive device and attempted arson of a property utilized in interstate commerce.

Singh stated that Marion County prosecutors want to pursue charges against him in relation to the shooting at the Tesla dealership, even though he has not been charged yet.

According to Assistant Federal Public Defender Mark Ahlemeyer, Lansky was taking a prescription that made his mania worse at the time, and his therapist had misdiagnosed him. According to Ahlemeyer, he has been appropriately diagnosed with bipolar disorder and given the right medicine ever since he was placed under arrest.

As an audio engineer and producer who has worked with the Portland Baroque Orchestra, Portland Piano International, the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland, and the Oregon Symphony, Ahlemeyer noted that over two dozen people attended the review of detention hearing on Wednesday in support of Lansky.

According to Ahlemeyer, a woman he used to work with at a YMCA in the Salem region has offered to host him in her house while he awaits trial.

A pretrial officer would propose that Lansky be monitored for his medications, continue receiving mental health counseling, refrain from carrying any firearms, and either work or go to school.

According to Ahlemeyer, Lansky has no past criminal history other from a few minor infractions during his youth in Florida. He claimed that instead of pointing a gun at someone outside the dealership, Lansky kept it in a low, ready position.

Singh stated that although he thinks Lansky is honest in wanting to continue receiving mental health care, that could not be the case.

In a detention brief, Singh informed U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie Beckerman that the government was concerned about Lansky’s mental health. His present motivation to follow his treatment plan could suddenly shift, leading to a return to risky and erratic conduct.

Singh also expressed concern about the initial Tesla attack’s timing, which occurred on the morning of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

According to Singh, Lansky wanted to make a strong statement on the morning of the inauguration, and the methods he used were risky not just for the physical harm they could cause to anyone in the area but also for the psychological damage they may cause to the community on a day that was important to American democracy.

Although Beckerman stated that she thought the alleged offenses were extremely irresponsible and dangerous, she also noted that Lansky’s past suggested that they were an anomaly.

She agreed to his release based on his community service and support, as well as his lack of criminal past. She added that she thought his mental health problems were probably the cause of the alleged acts.

Beckerman discovered that his conditions and release plan would lower the risk to the public. If he doesn’t follow the rules, he has to go back to jail, she said.

Singh stated that he would file an appeal with U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson about Beckerman’s ruling. The government was given until 5 p.m. by Beckerman. Lansky will be discharged on Thursday.

Since Trump took office and selected Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a multibillionaire, to further his agenda, Tesla showrooms and dealerships around the nation have been the target of protests and vandalism.

According to Tesla Motors, the attacks in Salem caused damage of almost $500,000. One Tesla was destroyed and seven others were damaged.

— Maxine Bernstein writes about criminal justice and federal courts. 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, X@maxoregonian, Bluesky@maxbernstein.bsky.social, and LinkedIn are some of her contact details.

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