Arson

What is Arson?

Arson is a willful act in which a person maliciously burns or causes to burn a property. Arson crimes vary in their seriousness and degree of damage. Any act of maliciously or recklessly burning or charring of a property is pursued as a criminal offense in state of California.

What Are Common Arson Crimes?

Arson and reckless burning is an extensive term and covers all the different types of burning of property, land, forest or boat. However, the common arson offenses are as follow,

  • Setting one’s own property on fire with fraudulent intent such as to claim insurance money.
  • Setting a property or land on fire for which you do not own any ownership rights.
  • Setting fire to forests.
  • Setting fire to agricultural land.
  • Setting fire to a public structure
  • Setting fire to an inhabited property

CA Penal Code 451, 452

The California Penal code 451 and 452 highlighted the arson and reckless burning offense and describe penalties for these offenses.

PC 451: “A person is guilty of arson when he or she willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning of, any structure, forest land, or property.”

PC 452: “A person is guilty of unlawfully causing a fire when he recklessly sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned, any structure, forest land or property.”

According to PC 451, 452, both arson and reckless burning are charged as felony and are punishable by law. In both arson and reckless burning cases, there is an important role of intent. What is the intent of the person when setting the property on fire? The arson or reckless burning charges are proven only if the person had malicious intent or recklessly set fire to property or structure.

Investigation of Arson

Arson or reckless burning is investigated by special forensic officers through a range of physical and chemical tests. The investigators collect evidences from the site through physical examination as well as chemical tests to determine the cause of fire and identify the persons of interest. Therefore, the investigation of arson is a highly specialized field with forensic evidences to prove the charges.

If you or your loved one is fighting arson charges, you need immediate help of an experienced and knowledgeable defense lawyer. It is not enough to hire a lawyer with knowledge of laws, but you should hire someone that understand the complexity and nature of the arson or reckless burning case.

Penalties of Arson Charges

The penalties for ‘malicious’ arson charges are

Setting fire to another's property: up to 3 years in prison

Setting fire to forest land: up to 6 years in prison

Setting fire to an inhabited structure: up to 8 years in prison

Serious bodily injury as a result of arson: up to 9 years in prison

 

The penalties for "reckless" charges arson in California can include:

Setting fire to another's property: up to 1 years in county jail

Setting fire to forest land: up to 3 years in prison

Setting fire to an inhabited structure: up to 4 years in prison

Serious bodily injury as a result of arson: up to 6 years in prison

 

Enhancement of Arson Charges

California penal code imposes strict penalties for arson charges in the state. Arson penalties can be enhanced from three to five years in presence of following conditions,

  • Previous record of arson conviction.
  • Fire caused great bodily injury to an emergency personnel or a firefighter.
  • If there are more than one victim as a result of fire
  • You set multiple structures to fire.
  • You used a device designed to accelerate the fire or delay ignition.

Seek A Professional Legal Representation

If you are facing arson charges, you can immediately consult the law office of David S. Chesley and seek legal representation. Our aggressive approach to defense will help you in successfully fighting the charges.