The 34-year-old Norco man arrested on suspicion of beginning the Line hearth, which has raged via San Bernardino County, tried a number of instances to start out a fireplace earlier than succeeding, prosecutors allege.
The San Bernardino County district legal professional’s workplace filed felony expenses Thursday in opposition to 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 harm. Prosecutors stated further expenses could also be filed for any additional construction harm or accidents as the hearth continues.
They stated Halstenberg additionally could possibly be tied to different fires.
“The devastation that has unfolded as a result of alleged actions of 1 man can’t be undone,” Dist. Atty. Jason Anderson stated in an announcement, including that “37,000 acres of forest land and mountain communities may by no means be what they as soon as have been.”
“My hope is that with the investigative efforts of our regulation enforcement companions and thorough prosecution of this case,” he stated, “we are able to supply 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 “didn’t gentle that fireside.”
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 through which she stated that she was not speaking to the press.
However, she stated: “I do need to say this about my child boy. He didn’t gentle that fireside, I repeat he didn’t gentle that fireside.”
She stated there are issues that her son does that she doesn’t approve of however that “he isn’t an arsonist.”
In submitting expenses, 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 Courtroom.
(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 hearth was stomped out by Samaritan.
“Undeterred, he ignited a 3rd hearth which is what we now know because the Line Fireplace,” prosecutors stated within the assertion.
Three firefighters have been injured within the first couple of days of the hearth. A minimum of one construction has been destroyed, and three others have been broken, however none have been properties, based on San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus. He stated the hearth had affected an estimated 100,000 county residents.
California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety Battalion Chief Matt Kirkhart, who supervises the regulation enforcement investigation unit, stated arson investigators responded to the hearth that day to find out the origin and explanation for the hearth.
Flames from the Line hearth attain the treetops Tuesday in Working Springs, Calif.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
He stated investigators instantly started to comb via video taken from site visitors cameras and license plate readers in an effort to develop a lead. They have been joined by detectives with the Sheriff’s Division. Kirkhart stated investigators sooner or later have been capable of establish a white truck, which led them to the suspect.
Sheriff’s Det. Jake Hernandez stated Halstenberg was taken into custody Tuesday at his dwelling 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 data present that Halstenberg has a felony historical past, primarily involving car violations reminiscent of driving with a suspended license. In April, he was charged with possession of managed substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Property data present that Halstenberg was dwelling along with his dad and mom and siblings in Norco, the place he was in the end 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 Courtroom.