The man accused of trying to kill OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by throwing a Molotov cocktail at his home has a history of mental health issues and made the attack while experiencing an “acute mental health crisis,” his attorney said in court Tuesday.

Daniel Moreno-Gama appeared in an orange jumpsuit and agreed to postpone his arraignment to May 5, giving his public defenders more time to prepare. The 20-year-old from Texas faces state charges of attempted murder, arson, and possession of an explosive device. He faces similar charges in federal court.

Police and prosecutors say Moreno-Gama tried to firebomb Altman’s house hours before dawn Friday. The front gate at the home caught fire, and security guards promptly extinguished it. No injuries were reported. 

Judge Kenneth Wine ordered Moreno-Gama held without bail and issued a protective order requiring him to stay away from individuals he allegedly indicated he intended to target.

Outside the courtroom, Public Defender Diamond Ward said Moreno-Gama has no criminal history and had been working part time at a pizzeria while attending community college. She said he is autistic.

Ward argued that the case was overcharged, describing it as a property crime in which no one was injured and there was only “some damage to a gate.”

“It’s unfair and unjust for the San Francisco district attorney and the federal government to fearmonger and exploit the mental illness of a vulnerable young man by turning a vandalism case into an attempted murder case with [the possibility of a life sentence] to gain support from a billionaire,” Ward said.

Moreno-Gama’s parents said he is “loving” and “caring” but has had a recent mental health crisis. They said he has never hurt anyone.

“We have been trying our best to address these issues and get him effective treatment, and we are very concerned for his well-being,” they said in a statement.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins rejected the defense’s characterization, saying that the charges were not influenced by Altman’s status and that her office had no reason to believe Moreno-Gama has mental health issues.

Jenkins said prosecutors sought the protective order to prevent Moreno-Gama from contacting any alleged targets if released.

“It is very clear this was a targeted attack on Mr. Altman,” Jenkins said. “It wouldn’t matter if this was a billionaire or a CEO or any average San Franciscan. Regardless of a victim’s status, they all deserve justice, and they all deserve safety.”

She declined to provide details about those individuals or the contents of an alleged manifesto, saying she did not want to “give him a platform or encourage copycats.”

The alleged attack by Moreno-Gama was not the only recent incident targeting Altman. On early Sunday, Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, allegedly fired a shot at his home from a Honda sedan. Police arrested the pair shortly afterward and recovered three firearms from their residence.

Jenkins is investigating whether the two incidents are connected, but hasn’t filed charges in that case.