A Johnson Valley man has been convicted of the fiery attack that nearly claimed the lives of two individuals. Joshua Adam Kaiser, 33, was found guilty of attempted murder, arson, domestic violence, and related charges, according to an announcement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
The June 2023 incident, which occurred around 1 a.m. on Cholla Road in Johnson Valley, saw a man and a woman horrifically set ablaze. The female victim, suffering severe burns, recounted the harrowing ordeal to deputies at the Hi-Desert Medical Center, where both victims initially sought treatment, according to a Sheriff's Department update. The male victim had to be transferred to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center due to life-threatening injuries, but both have since been released and are in recovery.
Following an exhaustive investigation involving the Morongo Basin Station and the Sheriff’s Arson/Bomb Detail, detectives gathered evidence and identified Kaiser as their suspect. Kaiser was apprehended on July 5, 2023, with bail set at a staggering $1 million.
In Wednesday's verdict, the jury convicted Kaiser of two counts of willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder under Penal Code § 664/187(a), amongst other charges. The jury also upheld special allegations, including personal infliction of great bodily injury as indicated in the Sheriff's Department's release. Shannon D. Dicus, Sheriff-Coroner, San Bernardino County, called on anyone with more information to come forward and contact Detective S. Ables at the Morongo Basin Station.
