Peter Karasev (inset) in a San Jose Police Department mug shot, the suspect’s home pictured in March after his initial arrest (KGO-TV/screengrab)
A 36-year-old California software engineer allegedly found with an inactive meth lab in his home back in March, months after two PG&E transformers were blown up, now faces a federal indictment, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
Peter Karasev’s indictment, dated Oct. 19, listed three counts in connection with the use of an explosive to destroy PG&E transformers in San Jose on Dec. 8, 2022 and Jan. 5, 2023, affecting over 1,500 homes and businesses locally.
Law&Crime readers may remember PG&E as the power company that pleaded guilty to 84 involuntary manslaughter counts in connection with the deadly Camp Fire of 2018 and which subsequently faced massive liability for other fires, in addition to bankruptcy proceedings. While Karasev’s alleged motive behind the explosions is unclear, the indictment said the accused bomber “attempted to cause and caused a significant interruption and impairment of a function” of PG&E energy facilities located in San Jose on Thornwood Drive and Snell Avenue, respectively.
The indictment further said the defendant used “fire and an explosive” to carry out the bombings.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the prosecution is proof that anyone who goes after America’s “critical infrastructure” in this way “will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”
“We have charged Peter Karasev with bombing two energy transformers in Northern California, leaving more than 1,500 households and businesses in the San Jose community without power,” Garland said.
FBI Director Christopher Wray similarly weighed in, alleging that the defendant built the explosives himself and used them for the express purpose of damaging energy the facilities.
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In a press release, the DOJ also referenced that Karasev was found after his initial arrest to have a “range” of IEDs in production at his residence, as well as materials to manufacture meth.
“The government’s memorandum also detailed that in the months leading up to the attacks, Karasev was building and experimenting with homemade explosives, as well as manufacturing methamphetamine, in his own home,” the DOJ said. “At the time of his arrest, Karasev was allegedly in possession of a range of improvised explosive devices in varying stages of completion, as well as multiple firearms, additional weapons, over 300 pounds of explosive precursor materials, and other hazardous substances.”
Court records show that Karasev was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday and he pleaded not guilty to the offenses that could put him behind bars for decades if he is convicted as charged.
A Nov. 7 detention order detailed that the government moved for Karasev’s pretrial detainment and the defendant did not oppose it.
“Mr. Karasev is committed to the custody of the Attorney General or his designated representative for confinement in a corrections facility separate, to the extent practicable, from persons awaiting or serving sentences or being held in custody pending appeal. Mr. Karasev shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity for private consultation with defense counsel,” the order said. “On order of a court of the United States or on the request of an attorney for the government, the person in charge of the corrections facility shall deliver Mr. Karasev to the United States Marshal for the purpose of appearances in connection with court proceedings.”
A status conference was set for 9 a.m. California time on Jan. 30 in U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman’s courtroom.
Read the indictment here.
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