LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Clearlake man has been convicted and sentenced to state prison for a September 2019 arson.
On Monday, Matthew Samuel Miravalle, 36, was convicted of committing felony arson and Judge J. David Markham sentenced Miravalle to six years in state prison, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Miravalle was arrested on Sept. 26, 2019, three days after setting a fire in Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News first reported last year.
According to investigation reports by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire, sheriff’s Investigator Todd Dunia met with Cal Fire Arson Investigator Joe Baldwin concerning a fire that occurred on Sept. 23, 2019, on Highway 20 at the bus stop near Lake Street in Clearlake Oaks.
On the day of the fire, Lake County was under red flag conditions due to fire danger. Hinchcliff said the fire burned a small strip of vegetation and part of a wood fence next to the Eskaton Senior Apartment building.
As a result of the investigation by Dunia and Baldwin, and information provided by firefighter Randy Newell of the Northshore Fire District, it was determined that Miravalle intentionally started the fire, Hinchcliff said.
Hinchcliff said investigators found two witnesses who provided information about the start of the fire and found video at the apartment complex showing Miravalle at the scene of the fire when it started.
On Sept. 26, 2019, Miravalle was taken into custody and interviewed by Dunia. Hinchcliff said Miravalle initially denied starting the fire and claimed to be in Ukiah when the fire started.
After Dunia confronted Miravalle with the witness statements and video, Miravalle admitted starting the fire. Hinchcliff said Miravalle claimed he started fires when he was mad at someone and someone had recently made him angry. He also stated he was aware that senior citizens resided in the adjacent apartment building, and claimed that his grandmother also lived there.
Hinchcliff said Miravalle had previously been convicted of arson in 2014 when he lit a bulletin board on fire in a laundromat.
During the course of the prosecution, a doubt was declared about Miravalle’s competency to stand trial, he was referred for an evaluation by doctors, court proceedings were temporarily suspended and doctors later determined Miravalle was competent to stand trial, Hinchcliff said.
Hinchcliff, who handles most of the fire-related prosecutions for Lake County, said he charged Miravalle with arson of property and a strike for the prior arson conviction.
Angelina Potter was appointed as a public defender to represent Miravalle. On March 20, Miravalle pleaded no-contest to arson and admitted the prior strike conviction, Hinchcliff said.
Hinchcliff said Judge Markham sentenced Miravalle on Monday to the upper term of six years in state prison.
Miravalle also will be required to register as an arson offender for his lifetime, Hinchcliff said.
Clearlake man sentenced to prison for 2019 arson case
- Lake County News reports
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