A convicted arsonist faces further charges of a series of intentionally set blazes in Orange County of vehicles and fire stations in Anaheim, according to court records obtained Tuesday.
Christian David Saddler, 21, of Hesperia, was charged July 26 with a count of arson of an inhabited structure, two counts of burglary, five counts of arson of property and a count of arson of a structure or forest, all felonies. He also faces sentencing enhancements for arson with the use of an acceleration device.
Saddler pleaded not guilty July 24 and was ordered to return to court Sept. 11 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana for a pretrial hearing. Saddler was serving a five-year prison sentence on arson and burglary convictions when he was charged in the Orange County case, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Jon Muir.
Saddler, who was once a San Bernardino County Fire Explorer, is suspected of setting blazes to divert firefighters out of their stations so he could burglarize them, Muir said.
No one was injured in the blazes, but investigators suspect he started multiple fires and broke into stations in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties as well and caused more than $5 million in damage, Muir said.
Saddler is accused of setting the Orange County fires on Dec. 18 and Dec. 20 of 2016, according to court records. Four vehicles were set ablaze as well as a lumberyard at 1220 E. Ball Road in Anaheim and fire stations in Anaheim, according to court records. One blaze was set in Santa Ana at 318 N. McClay St., according to court records.
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