Man accused of burning Tesla chargers in North Charleston to be arraigned on new federal charges

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — A James Island man accused of setting fire to Tesla charging stations in North Charleston last month is set to appear in federal court Wednesday on new charges.

Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, was indicted April 8 on one count of arson of property used in interstate commerce, one count of unlawful making of a firearm and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

The firearm charges stem from Clarke-Pounder’s alleged use of Molotov cocktails, which are classified as destructive devices under federal law. Such devices must be registered with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, but the ones used in the attack were not, according to court documents.

Clarke-Pounder will be arraigned in U.S. District Court on April 23 at 10:30 a.m.

North Charleston officers responded to a Tesla charging station on Tanger Outlet Boulevard on the evening of March 10 following reports of a suspected arson.

Witnesses reportedly told authorities that a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a black face mask spray-painted “F*** Trump, long live Ukraine” in red in a parking spot.

The individual — later identified as Clarke-Pounder — then threw Molotov cocktails made from beer bottles at the charging stations, causing approximately $60,000 in damage, before running from the scene.

A criminal complaint stated that the incident was captured on a nearby restaurant’s surveillance cameras, which ultimately led investigators to Clarke-Pounder.

The complaint referenced a notebook found in Clarke-Pounder’s apartment with a three-page written statement containing “anti-government beliefs and statements opposed to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).” A handwritten note with similar sentiments was also reportedly found in his wallet.

Tesla dealerships and charging stations have been the target of suspected arson attacks nationwide in the early months of the Trump administration as DOGE’s leader, billionaire Elon Musk, faces backlash over his efforts to slash government spending and drastically cut the federal workforce.

Clarke-Pounder was arrested on March 13 and is currently out of jail on a $10,000 bond.

This story may be updated.