Man accused of burning Tesla chargers in North Charleston granted bond

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) — A federal judge granted bond Monday to a James Island man accused of using Molotov cocktails to burn Tesla chargers in North Charleston earlier this month.

24-year-old Daniel Clarke-Pounder, who faces federal arson charges, appeared in U.S. District Court on March 17 for a preliminary hearing.

Judge Mary Baker granted him a $10,000 cash bond, according to court records. He will be placed on house arrest and only permitted to leave home for medical or court reasons.

Clarke-Pounder must also seek substance abuse and mental health treatment, the judge ordered.

North Charleston officers responded to a Tesla charging station on Tanger Outlet Boulevard around 7:15 p.m. Monday following reports of a suspected arson.

When authorities arrived, witnesses explained a White man in a grey jacket/hoodie with a black face mask spray-painted “F*** Trump, long live Ukraine” in red next to stations.

Authorities said the individual then threw Molotov cocktails made out of beer bottles at the charging stations, damaging them, before leaving the scene.

A criminal complaint states that the incident was captured on surveillance video by a nearby restaurant, which ultimately led investigators to Clarke-Pounder.

Clarke-Pounder was arrested on March 13 and charged with Arson of Property in Interstate Commerce, which carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Jail records showed Clarke-Pounder was still booked in the Al Cannon Detention Center as of Monday afternoon.