On Thursday, January 16th, deputies from the SCV Sheriff Station responded to a call about potential arson in Castaic. According to reports, witnesses saw a woman in a gray sweater light a fire and then trot off. The fire itself grew to half an acre before it was put out.
Upon their arrival, deputies quickly combed the area and located a woman matching the suspect’s description. Firefighters arrived minutes after being called when the fire was still at a quarter acre. It grew to half an acre before firefighters stopped its forward progress. All told, the firefight took only minutes to stop the progress and contain the blaze before it grew even larger.
After a short investigation the deputies verified she was the suspect and arrested her. Luckily, no injuries were reported nor were any structures threatened by the fire.
Arson is covered under California Penal Code 451 PC and is described as willfully and maliciously setting fore to any structure, property, or forest land. It is possible to be convicted of arson even if you don’t light the fire directly. Aiding, counseling, or procuring the burning are also grounds for arson charges.
Arson is a felony in the State of California. The penalties depend on the circumstances of the crime. The malicious burning of personal property can be punished by between 16 months and 3 years in state prison. The malicious burning of a structure or forest land can result in a penalty of between 2 and 6 years in state prison. If an inhabited structure or land is burned, the penalty increases to between 3 and 8 years in state prison. Last, should the burning cause someone great bodily injury, the penalty is increased to between 5 and 9 years.
In situations where burning occurred but was not intentional or malicious, the suspect may face misdemeanor or felony charges under PC 452 – California’s reckless burning law.
Last, should someone be charged with aggravated arson (PC 451.5), which entails planning to start a fire to intentionally hurt someone or that will very likely hurt someone, the suspect faces mandatory 10 years to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 10 years.
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