Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Arson/Explosives Detail arrested a suspect Monday, May 14, 2012, in connection with a 2011 church arson fire in Hacienda Heights.
On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, charges were filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office against 34-year old Suspect Gregory Yusuke Shiga.
Suspect Shiga was arrested at his residence in Los Angeles and has been charged with committing the Arson that destroyed the sanctuary of the St. John Vianney Church in Hacienda Heights on April 16, 2011, causing $6.5 million dollars in damage. His charges include:
(1) Count 451.5 (a) P.C., Willful Intent to cause Damage/Injury
(2) 451 c Arson /Structure
(3) 451 .1 (a) Causing Multiple Structures to Burn
(4) 453 (a) Possession of Flammable Material
(5) 459 P.C. Burglary/Commercial
This arrest and criminal filing was made after a 13 month long joint investigation by the Sheriff’s Arson/Explosives Detail and special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Domestic Terrorism Unit. Also assisting with this investigation was the Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau; F.B.I.’s Evidence Response Team; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives National Response Team; Los Angeles County Fire Department; and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Suspect Shiga is on parole and is being held without bail. He is due to be arraigned Wednesday in Division 4, West Covina Superior Court at 1:30PM. If convicted, Suspect Shiga could face up to 12 years to life in State Prison.
The unincorporated community of Hacienda Heights is policed by the Industry Sheriff’s Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Click on the hyperlink below to read the original 2011 LASD News Releases about this case:
http://nixle.com/alert/4679297/
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Larry Lincoln, Lieutenant
Arson/Explosives Detail
Emergency Operations Bureau
Homeland Security Division
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Forwarded by:
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
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Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
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News Release – Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office
May 16, 2012
Man charged in Hacienda Heights church arson
WEST COVINA – An alleged arsonist accused of torching St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Hacienda Heights, causing damages in excess of $6.5 million, is expected to be arraigned this afternoon, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Deputy District Attorney Renee Rose of the Target Crimes Division, Arson Section, said Gregory Yusuke Shiga, 34 (dob 3/01/78), of Hacienda Heights is charged with one count each of aggravated arson, arson of a structure or forest, possession of flammable material and second-degree commercial burglary.
Shiga is expected to be arraigned after 1:30 pm in Department 4 of Citrus Superior Court in West Covina. His bail is recommended at $1 million.
The criminal complaint alleges that the fire caused property damage and other losses in excess of $6.5 million. The charging document also includes special allegations that the defendant proximately caused multiple structures to burn and that the arson was caused by use of a devise designed to accelerate the fire or delay ignition.
Shiga allegedly broke into the church’s sanctuary just after midnight on April 16, 2011. The fire caused extensive damage to the church and to surrounding buildings. No one was hurt.
Shiga was arrested on May 14 in Los Angeles following a year-long investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 10 years to life in state prison.
sdm
Shiara Dávila-Morales
Media Relations Division
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
(213) 974-6724
(213) 974-3528
http://da.lacounty.gov
