A Bexar County judge on Tuesday handed a 35-year prison sentence to a San Antonio man who prosecutors say intentionally set his mother's house on fire in January 2024 while he was still inside the burning home.
The blaze, which investigators said started inside the residence and put both occupants and neighbors at risk, ended with the defendant taken into custody in the house as firefighters and police worked the scene.
Judge Christine Del Prado of the 227th Criminal District Court sentenced 44-year-old Victor Diaz III after a jury convicted him of arson of a habitation. Prosecutors said Diaz's mother had previously told him to leave because of ongoing drug use and unemployment. According to court records, he returned in the early hours of Jan. 26, 2024. The Bexar County Criminal District Attorney's Office announced the sentence in a news release, as reported by KSAT.
How Prosecutors Say The Fire Started
At trial, court records showed Diaz banged on his mother's bedroom window, threatened to burn the house down, hurt others and take his own life. His mother fled the home "out of fear" for her safety, according to prosecutors.
When officers arrived, they found the residence already on fire and Diaz "crouched" in the laundry room, where he was taken into custody. Fire and arson investigators testified that the flames originated in that laundry room and were intentionally started when an open flame ignited combustible materials, according to KSAT.
Sentence And Legal Details
Judge Del Prado assessed a 35-year sentence on the arson-of-a-habitation conviction, a charge that prosecutors argued warranted decades behind bars because of the danger to people in and around the home.
The Bexar County Criminal District Attorney's Office described the outcome in a news release and cast the punishment as accountability for what it called a deliberately dangerous act. Court dockets will carry the full record of the conviction, along with any future motions or appeals that may be filed.
Resources And Community Context
Prosecutors said the case highlights how family conflicts and substance use can escalate quickly into violent, life-altering crimes that ripple beyond a single household and into the surrounding neighborhood.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 for immediate help, or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for information and support.
The sentence brings legal closure to a case that began in January 2024 and rattled the block where the fire broke out. According to the DA's office and court records, the matter was resolved at trial. Any appeals or post-conviction challenges will appear on the court calendar in the weeks ahead.
