Santa Ana man charged with attempted murder and arson after attack on a homeless pair

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 18CF0326

Date: January 30, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER AND ARSON FOR SETTING FIRE TO TENT WITH HOMELESS MAN AND WOMAN INSIDE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged with attempted murder and arson for setting fire to a tent with a homeless man and woman inside in Santa Ana.

Defendant: James Anthony Lawlor, 35, Santa Ana

Charged on Jan. 26, 2018, with the following felony counts:

• Attempted murder
• Arson of inhabited property
• Possession of flammable material
• Sentencing Enhancements
  • Premeditation
  • Arson with accelerant

Maximum Sentence: Seven years to life in state prison

Continued arraignment: Feb. 6, 2018, 8:30 a.m. at Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

• At the time of the crime, John Doe and Jane Doe lived in a tent near the defendant’s residence in Santa Ana.
• At approximately 8:20 a.m. on Jan. 19, 2018, Lawlor is accused of confronting John Doe outside of his tent and kicking the victim in the face.
• The defendant is accused of driving away in his truck and returning to the victims’ tent a short time later with a red gasoline can.
• Lawlor is further accused of pouring gasoline on John Doe and Jane Doe’s tent and lighting it on fire while both the victims were inside. The defendant is accused of then fleeing the scene.
• Santa Ana Police Department, who investigated this case, arrested Lawlor on Jan. 25, 2018.

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nichols, Special Prosecutions Unit

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Michelle Van Der Linden,Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486