Santa Ana man charged with burning down his house after a divorce dispute

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17CF0551

Date: March 6, 2017

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SETTING FAMILY’S HOUSE ON FIRE AFTER DISPUTE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for setting his family’s house on fire after a dispute with the other occupants. Jose Luis Martinez Jr., 34, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of arson of an inhabited property and one felony count of unlawfully causing fire to an inhabited structure. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years in state prison. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned today, March 6, 2017, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

On Thursday, March 2, 2017, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a resident of a home on West Washington Avenue in Santa Ana called 911 to report a family dispute. Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers responded and urged Martinez to come out peacefully. Approximately one hour later, the defendant is accused of setting fire to his room in the two-story house he shared with family members. The other occupants were safely outside, but the fire spread and caused significant damage to all levels of the structure. The fire also damaged portions of the next door neighbor’s house.

The Orange County Fire Authority and SAPD investigated this case. SAPD arrested Martinez at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nichols of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.

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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