Former Dentist Pleads Guilty to Damaging MGM Resorts-Linked Solar Grid

Article by : Erik Gibbs Nov 14, 2023

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In Las Vegas court last week, Mohammed Mesmarian, a 35-year-old former dentist from Colorado, pleaded guilty to two reduced charges related to an incident where he drove his car through a fence at a solar power facility and ignited a fire.

The charges included second-degree arson and malicious destruction of property. Mesmarian had initially faced charges such as committing an act of terrorism, arson and escape by a felony prisoner for the January 3 incident.

Claiming to suffer from emotional illness, Mesmarian is scheduled for sentencing on December 18. The potential outcomes include imprisonment, probation, or court-ordered mental health treatment.

Earlier this year, he was ruled emotionally unfit for trial and sent to a Nevada forensic psychiatric institution.

The incident caused damage to a transformer and other infrastructure at the facility, leading to weeks of power outages until repairs were completed. During the outage, MGM Resorts properties were able to secure alternative energy sources by tapping into the grid.

On January 5, Mesmarian was apprehended at a campsite located in Boulder Beach at Lake Mead. During his initial appearance in court, Mesmarian made an outburst, denying sabotage and expressing frustration with the legal system, emphasizing perceived issues since his entry into it.

Mesmarian conveyed a sense that things were not functioning correctly, describing the situation as a gathering of Black individuals confined in a room together.

The incident occurred at the Mega Solar Array facility, situated on US 93, north of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Operated by Chicago-based Invenergy, the facility supplies power to 13 MGM Resorts properties.

The MGM Resorts Mega Array project, a crucial part of the gaming company’s long-term climate strategy, is the world’s largest renewable energy plant serving the gaming industry. Spanning 640 acres, it features 336,000 panels that capture 100 megawatts of power.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Dickerson explained that the plea entered by Mesmarian enables a judge to mandate treatment if the judge determines that Mesmarian is mentally ill and issues a prison sentence.

Dickerson clarified that the plea doesn’t alter the crime’s penalty or Mesmarian’s guilt; its sole purpose is to offer the possibility of receiving treatment during the serving of his punishment.