Arson suspect faces 132 charges
Teen is 1 of 3 arrested in fire of apartments being built
The 18-year-old man arrested in connection to the January arson fire at an under-construction apartment complex, which damaged over 20 properties, made his initial appearance in Yuma Justice Court Thursday, where he was told he is facing 132 felony charges.
Daniel Ignacio Molina listened during the hearing as Justice of the Peace Manuel Figueroa, for the record, read the allegations being sought against him by the Yuma Police Department, which included 66 counts of endangerment and one count of participating in a criminal street gang.
Other allegations included 13 counts of arson of an occupied structure, 29 counts of arson of an unoccupied structure and 29 counts of criminal damage.
Figueroa also explained to Molina that the county attorney’s office has two days to review the case and decide whether to file a criminal complaint against him, charging him with any of the offenses.
He continued by saying if no criminal complaint was filed against him, he would be released. If a complaint was filed, however, he would be provided with a copy of it when he returns to court Monday.
Prior to bail being set, prosecutor James Eustace asked to be heard on the matter, saying the Yuma County Attorney’s Office was requesting a high bond because it had several concerns in regard to the case, the foremost being Molina should be considered a flight risk.
“He has a good reason to flee, based on the number of charges,” Eustace said.
Eustace continued by saying that the number of arson-of-an-occupied-structure charges Molina is fac-
ing also shows that he is a threat to the community and he was participating in a criminal street gang when he allegedly committed the offenses.
However, attorney Eugene Marquez, of the Yuma County Public Defenders Office, argued against a bond, saying his client should be released to a third-party, or at the very least to pre-trial services. If not, he continued, set bail at an amount the family can afford to pay.
While there are numerous charges pending against his client, Marquez told the court that in all likelihood they probably all won’t be filed.
After listening to both counsel, in cash-only is Yuma p.m., the scheduled on amount Justice Monday. Figueroa bond. to of Court return a set $350,000 Molina at bail to 1 As arrested for the two in connection other suspects to the case — a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy — they are both scheduled to appear at what are known as detention advisory hearings in Yuma County Juvenile Court at 1 p.m. on Friday. Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center Director Tim Hardy said during that hearing they will also be informed of the charges they are facing and whether they will be detained for their roles in the fire, which caused an estimated $1.1 million in damages. Hardy added that due to the nature and seriousness of the charges, there is a possibility that the county attorney’s office could do what is called a “direct file” to have the boys charged as adults. If that happens, their next hearing will be in Yuma Justice Court instead of Juvenile Court. The 17-year-old boy is facing multiple counts of arson and endangerment while the 16-year-old boy has allegations of conspiracy and witness tampering pending against him.
A fourth suspect, Devon Munson, 18, has not yet been located. He also faces multiple charges of arson and endangerment.
The fire broke out just before 3:30 a.m., Jan. 29, at the Mesa Heights apartment complex, which is still under construction in the 2100 block of Arizona Avenue. Nearby residents were evacuated.
Over 20 properties were damaged and six buildings were totally destroyed, including an apartment building and five homes. Six other vehicles or structures sustained significant damage, and there were 15 other small yard and debris fires, one of which burned a carport screen.