 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The man police accuse of setting the Ranch 2 Fire appeared in court September 11. Osmin Palencia, 36, pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of arson during a state of emergency and arson of a structure or forest, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Police accuse Palencia of intentionally starting a fire that grew to burn 4,237 acres. The blaze, dubbed the Ranch 2 Fire, was reported to authorities around 2:53 p.m. August 13. Azusa Police allege Palencia ignited the fire during an argument. He is apparently a homeless man who lives in a tent near where the fire started at San Gabriel Canyon Road and Ranch Road.
The case against Palencia also includes allegations that he was previously convicted of dissuading a witness in 2015, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Palencia faces a possible maximum of 23 years in state prison if convicted as charged. Palencia is scheduled to return to court December 9.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The Azusa transient accused of causing the brush fire still burning across the San Gabriel Mountains was charged Wednesday.
Osmin Palencia, 36, was charged with one felony count each of arson during a state of emergency and arson of a structure or forest, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Public Information Officer Ricardo Santiago. The Ranch 2 Fire began burning near Highway 39 and Ranch Road in the Azusa foothills Thursday, August 13. The fire has since scorched 4,300 acres and is 19 percent contained as of the morning of August 19, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After Azusa Police publicized Palencia as a suspect in the Ranch 2 Fire, he surrendered to officers Sunday, August 16. His bail is set at $435,000. If convicted as charged, Palencia faces a possible maximum of 23 years in state prison.  PHOTO courtesy of the Covina Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of setting arson fires in around Azusa and Covina pleaded not guilty Thursday. Jose Javier Salgado, 39, faces 12 counts of arson during a state of emergency, nine counts of arson of property and three counts of arson of a structure or forest, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Santiago was arraigned Thursday. Prosecutor Arthur Leahy of the DA’s Arson Explosives Section said Santiago set nine fires April 4 and set three more April 15 near mini-malls in and around the border between Azusa and Covina. Three fires burned roughly within an hour of each other late April 15, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor said.
A particularly large fire was set behind the Covina Walmart Supercenter, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., at 10:36 p.m. April 15. Firefighters finally knocked down the blaze at 11 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman. The fire destroyed pallets, a forklift and forced people to evacuate the store. Bail is set at $4.87 million. Salgado faces a possible maximum sentence of 27 years in state prison if convicted as charged, Santiago said.  PHOTO/Stock image. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged two men Thursday accused of setting a brush fire in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Glendora man Christopher Paul Ortega, 20, and Covina man Santino Francisco Gnaulati, 21, each face one felony count of arson of a structure or forest. Both men pleaded not guilty, according to Ricardo Santiago of the DA’s Office. Good Samaritans followed Ortega and Gnaulati from the scene as they fled in a white GMC pickup Just before 3 a.m. August 7 near Morris Dam along Highway 39. The Good Samaritans followed the suspects as they drove down San Gabriel Canyon Road until they got cell phone service to call authorities. Ortega and Gnaulati were taken into custody by San Dimas Sheriff’s deputies after they were detained by Azusa Police officers on Sierra Madre Avenue west of Azusa Avenue, according to Sgt. Pete Shupe of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. “Azusa PD received a phone call from people who said they were following a vehicle in which they saw two males start a fire,” Shupe said. The fire burned about one-quarter of an acre near Morris Dam in the 9500 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road. Los Angeles County firefighters were dispatched to assist the U.S. Forest Service at 2:53 a.m. August 7. Ortega and Gnaulati allegedly set the fire in a turnout along San Gabriel Canyon Road. Firefighting helicopters from both county fire and the U.S. Forest service assisted ground crews. “Thanks to the quick thinking and vigilance of the passerby, the fire was extinguished and suspects arrested,” said the U.S. Forest Service in a written statement. “Although small, left unchecked, this fire had the potential to threaten life, property and resources in the forest and nearby cities.” Ortega and Gnaulati are scheduled to return to West Covina Superior Court August 29. If convicted as charged, Ortega and Gnaulati face a possible maximum sentence of six years in state prison, Santiago said. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed