Tuesday, May 08, 2012

JOSHUA THOMAS: Alleged Serial Arsonist Pleads; Heads straight to prison for 33 years. What was he thinkin....

Long Beach Police Department (California)
Long Beach Police Department (California) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
LONG BEACH – A man accused of setting a string of fires in Long Beach, including two in homes in which the residents slept, pleaded no contest today and was immediately sentenced to more than 30 years in prison, the District Attorney’s Office announced. Joshua Ethan Thomas, 27, of Long Beach pleaded to five counts – one count of arson of an inhabited dwelling and two counts each of attempted murder and arson of a structure or forest. Thomas additionally admitted a 2004 prior strike conviction for criminal threats out of Los Angeles County. Long Beach Superior Court Judge Charles Sheldon immediately sentenced Thomas to 33 years, eight months in state prison. Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney from the Target Crimes Division prosecuted the case. Long Beach police arrested Thomas in April 2011 following a series of fires and burglaries. In two of the arsons, both of homes on April 16, 2011, people were inside sleeping when the fires were started. In one case, a victim’s bed was set afire while the victim slept, authorities said. No injuries were reported. Thomas was known to leave taunting messages for police at the scene of the crimes. The case was investigated by arson investigators from the Long Beach Fire Department and officers from the Long Beach Police Department.
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