The 34-year-old Norco man arrested on suspicion of beginning the Line hearth, which has raged by means of San Bernardino County, tried a number of occasions to start out a hearth earlier than succeeding, prosecutors allege.
The San Bernardino County district lawyer’s workplace filed prison prices Thursday towards Justin Wayne Halstenberg. He’s going through a number of counts of arson, together with utilizing incendiary units to start out fires and arson inflicting nice bodily damage. Prosecutors stated extra prices could also be filed for any additional construction injury or accidents as the fireplace continues.
They stated Halstenberg additionally could possibly be tied to different fires.
“The devastation that has unfolded due to the alleged actions of one man cannot be undone,” Dist. Atty. Jason Anderson stated in a press release, including that “37,000 acres of forest land and mountain communities might never be what they once were.”
“My hope is that with the investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners and thorough prosecution of this case,” he stated, “we can offer some measure of justice.”
The person’s mom, who’s battling most cancers, spoke out in her son’s protection, telling The Occasions on Thursday that he “did not light that fire.”
A helicopter drops water on the Line hearth Monday in Mentone, Calif.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
Connie Halstenberg made the remark in a textual content message response to The Occasions by which she stated that she was not speaking to the press.
However, she stated: “I do want to say this about my baby boy. He did not light that fire, I repeat he did not light that fire.”
She stated there are issues that her son does that she doesn’t approve of however that “he is not an arsonist.”
In submitting prices, prosecutors stated Halstenberg tried to start out a number of fires inside an hour within the metropolis of Highland. His first alleged try occurred at Bacon and Lytle lanes. That fireplace was reported and extinguished by native firefighters.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, is being held with out bail. He’s scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court docket.
(San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Division )
Prosecutors stated he tried a second time simply east of Bacon Lane, close to Base Line and Aplin streets. They stated the fireplace was stomped out by a great Samaritan.
“Undeterred, he ignited a third fire which is what we now know as the Line Fire,” prosecutors stated within the assertion.
Three firefighters had been injured within the first couple of days of the fireplace. At the very least one construction has been destroyed, and three others have been broken, however none had been properties, in response to San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus. He stated the fireplace had affected an estimated 100,000 county residents.
California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety Battalion Chief Matt Kirkhart, who supervises the legislation enforcement investigation unit, stated arson investigators responded to the fireplace that day to find out the origin and reason for the fireplace.
Flames from the Line hearth attain the treetops Tuesday in Operating Springs, Calif.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
He stated investigators instantly started to comb by means of video taken from site visitors cameras and license plate readers in an effort to develop a lead. They had been joined by detectives with the Sheriff’s Division. Kirkhart stated investigators in some unspecified time in the future had been in a position to establish a white truck, which led them to the suspect.
Sheriff’s Det. Jake Hernandez stated Halstenberg was taken into custody Tuesday at his house within the 1000 block of Detroit Avenue in Norco, the place a search was performed.
He stated Halstenberg labored as a FedEx contract supply driver and traveled all through the nation, wherever the corporate wanted him. An organization consultant couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
Riverside County court docket information present that Halstenberg has a prison historical past, primarily involving car violations comparable to driving with a suspended license. In April, he was charged with possession of managed substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Property information present that Halstenberg was dwelling along with his dad and mom and siblings in Norco, the place he was finally captured. A Fb account in his identify exhibits photographs of a tall, slim man surrounded by household and mates. On his profile, it states that at one level he labored for Stater Bros. Markets.
Halstenberg, who stays in jail with out bail, is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court docket.
