A New Mexico man faces federal charges for two alleged arson attempts in San Bernardino County, including targeting a church preschool and a strip mall. Jonathan A. Barajas Nava, 36, from Albuquerque is under indictment on counts of attempted property destruction by means of fire, officials stated on May 22.
Nava, arrested on April 24, initially faced state charges before the case went federal. He appeared in court for the first time on the federal charges on May 8, and is set for arraignment on May 28, in Riverside, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported.
The incidents, which happened on April 24, involved an attempt to set ablaze the Retreat Church and Yucaipa Christian Preschool. The authorities said Nava poured a flammable liquid on the building's entrance and lit it on fire while 48 children and 14 staff were inside, fortunately, no injuries were reported. That same day, he supposedly attacked a nearby strip mall, igniting the building's gas meters after dousing them with an ignitable fluid.
The investigation involves the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. If found guilty on all charges, Nava could face a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Dahlquist and Austin D. Young are leading the prosecution, as per the statement by Ciaran McEvoy, Public Information Officer.
