People v. Muhaw CA1/1

I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL

BACKGROUND

On April 16, 2021, H.M. reported to a fire station in Humboldt County that Muhaw had assaulted her and set “explosives around the house.”2 H.M. was in a live-in relationship with Muhaw and shared a child with him. H.M. stated that in the days before the incident, Muhaw had become increasingly paranoid and had “accus[ed] her of working for [the] police.” Then, on the day in question, while H.M. was holding their young child, Muhaw took out a shotgun and struck her on the forehead with the muzzle, “leaving a visible injury . . . above her eye.” He also threatened to kill her. Following H.M.’s report, the bomb squad and a SWAT team responded to Muhaw’s house. During prolonged negotiations with law enforcement officers, Muhaw made statements suggesting the house was rigged with explosives. He eventually surrendered and told officers that all the explosives inside had been disarmed. A subsequent search of the house uncovered “explosives material” and “a number of weapons.” It appeared

2 The underlying facts are drawn from the prosecutor’s summary of the factual basis of the plea, to which Muhaw stipulated.

2 that “Muhaw was attempting to create…