No bond, new charge added for man accused of shooting into Sacramento TV station

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) — Anibal Hernandez Santana — facing federal and state charges that he fired three gunshots into an ABC television station in Sacramento, California — knew on Thursday that he wouldn’t get bond.

The district attorney’s office has been forthcoming with information, said Mark Reichel, Santana’s attorney, after a morning hearing in Sacramento County Superior Court. They knew the judge would state the reasons why he wouldn’t release Santana — that he was likely to cause harm to others and had no assurance he’d return to court.

Santana and his attorney also knew about a new charge state prosecutors had added — accusations that he unlawfully discharged a firearm into an uninhabited building on Sept. 18, some 12 hours before authorities say Santana fired into the ABC10 building. The 64-year-old Santana pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday.

While an employee was in the lobby, authorities have said no one was injured.

“Obviously, we’re going to be exploring issues of mental health defenses,” Reichel said after the hearing, adding that it’s a viable defense in California. “It’s early on.”

Santana is next scheduled to appear in state court on Jan. 21, 2026. That’s when attorneys are expected to discuss when a preliminary hearing, like a mini-trial, will occur.

The federal case against Santana, initially taking precedence over the state one, has now taken a back seat. Reichel said state and federal prosecutors talked about the case and opted for the former to go first.

Reichel from the start has argued that the federal case was politically motivated. Similar cases are sent to state court and don’t reach the federal level.

Not for the first time, Reichel insisted it was a way for President Donald Trump to claim a left-leaning person was violent.

“So far, we haven’t had any luck getting a pardon from President Trump,” Reichel quipped, adding later: “I think they brought him to federal court because they could, not because they should.”

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California declined comment.

Thursday’s state hearing was Santana’s arraignment. Judge David Bonilla recited the charges Santana faces. Reichel waived a formal reading of the accusations, instead opting to return in January 2026 for the status conference.

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Casey Newton then argued why Santana shouldn’t receive bond.

“What you’re dealing with is a highly dangerous individual who planned a shooting into an occupied business during business hours,” Newton said.

Authorities discovered the first shooting after investigating the incident at the television station, Newton said.

According to the prosecutor, Santana drove to the area of the station and shot into an unoccupied building.

“That shot entered the building through a window,” he added.

The next day, Sept. 19, Santana drove to the same area and walked around. He then returned to his vehicle and changed clothes before firing a shot. He next approached the ABC10 station and fired three times into it, Newton said.

Santana fled and was later arrested, he added.

Reichel said he was released only for federal authorities to rearrest him.

In searches of his home and car, authorities found a weekly planner with the note “Do the Next Scary Thing” under that Friday and a handwritten note that read, “For hiding Epstein & ignoring red flags. Do not support Patel, Bongino, & AG Pam Bondi. They’re next. – C.K. from above,” according to officials.

“This case had political overtones, so it was brought to federal court,” Reichel said after Thursday’s hearing.