Man suspected in Riverside fires that precipitated almost $2 million in harm admits to arson depend

A 38-year-old parolee suspected of igniting  two fires in Riverside that collectively precipitated almost $2 million in harm pleaded responsible Tuesday to arson to a construction.

George Alexander Hill, an space transient, admitted the felony cost below a plea settlement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

In alternate for his admission, prosecutors agreed to drop one other arson depend, in addition to sentence-enhancing allegations of utilizing an incendiary system and concentrating on a number of buildings in an act of arson, filed in opposition to Hill.

Superior Court Judge Walter Kubelun scheduled a sentencing listening to for April 23 on the Riverside Hall of Justice. Hill is being held in lieu of $90,000 bail on the Robert Presley Jail.

According to the Riverside Fire Department, the defendant ignited a blaze that precipitated an estimated $100,000 harm to a Walmart within the 5200 block of Van Buren Boulevard on Oct. 23, 2022.

The blaze was knocked down a short while later and didn’t trigger the shop to stop operations. No one was damage.

RFD Arson Investigator Ray Mendoza stated that on Dec. 18, 2022, Hill torched a pile of pallets exterior a constructing, and the fireplace unfold to the construction the place stuffed animals are manufactured.

Firefighters battled the blaze for an hour earlier than gaining the higher hand. Again, nobody was injured.

Total harm to that enterprise was estimated to be $1.5 million, based on the fireplace division.

A doable motive for the offenses was not disclosed.

According to courtroom information, Hill has prior convictions for assault with a lethal weapon and possession of managed substances.