Santa Ana man pleads guilty to setting off illegal fireworks that injured six children

Two Orange County men, Frank Lazcano Lopez of Santa Ana, and co-defendant Michael Andrew Hunter, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to setting off illegal fireworks in Garden Grove three years ago that injured nine people, including two little boys ages 4 and 8.

Lopez, 49, of Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to felony charges of use of a destructive device causing bodily injury and dissuading a witness by force, as well as a misdemeanor count of malicious damage to personal property. Lopez cut a plea deal with the prosecutor that resulted in the dismissal of a felony count of use of a destructive device causing mayhem or great bodily injury.

Hunter pleaded guilty to felony charges of use of a destructive device causing bodily injury and malicious damage to personal property. Hunter also cut a plea deal with the prosecutor that resulted in the dismissal of felony counts of use of a destructive device causing mayhem or great bodily injury and use of a destructive device causing bodily injury.

Lopez was sentenced to 664 days in jail, which is how much time he has already spent in jail while awaiting trial. Hunter was sentenced to three days in jail, or time served, and 20 days of Caltrans work by June 26 of next year.

Police responded to the 13800 block of Rosita Place in Garden Grove at about 9:30 p.m. on the Fourth of July, back in 2021, after an explosion that blew out the windows at an apartment complex and shattered the windows on a vehicle, according to the Garden Grove Police Department.

The 8-year-old victim was taken to OC Global Medical Center in Santa Ana with a serious eye injury and burns, according to the police. Five other children were also injured by the explosion and were treated by paramedics, according to the police.