San Diego

A disabled veteran was indicted Wednesday on a single felony charge stemming from his barricading himself for 12 hours last month in the Department of Veterans Affairs building in Mission Valley, a federal prosecutor said.

Neil B. Shangold, 40, of Mira Mesa was charged with one count of damaging government property, Assistant U.S. Atty. Paul S. Cook said. If convicted, Shangold could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $250,000.

Shangold went to the 10th floor of the VA building at 3:15 p.m. Dec. 21, broke two windows and threw out computers, typewriter and other office equipment, police said. He surrendered at 3:15 a.m. Dec. 22.

In a written statement released after the incident, Shangold said his action was intended to get the attention of VA officials, who he claimed had been ignoring him.

Shangold said he did not want to harm anybody, and employees left the office unharmed. About $9,200 of office equipment was destroyed, Cook said, adding that Shangold remains at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center downtown in lieu of $150,000 bail.

A hearing to determine whether Shangold is competent to stand trial is set for Friday, Cook said. Shangold’s preliminary examination also is set for the same date.