In re K.F. CA3

BACKGROUND

The People filed a juvenile wardship petition alleging K.F. committed arson. (Pen. Code, § 451, subd. (d).)1 After a contested jurisdictional hearing, the juvenile court found the relevant facts as follows: “[A]t some time during the late evening of June 27, 2020, a fire of unknown origin ignited within the confines of a large automobile parts salvage yard . . . . [A]n investigator employed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . . . ruled the blaze’s cause to be of a suspicious nature. According to the owner’s estimate, the fire resulted in total losses totaling approximately $125,000.00. “Approximately one year later, on May 7, 2021, . . . [K.F.] admitted that he had set fire to the . . . salvage yard on June 27, 2020, at the urging and behest of [another person] . . . .” The juvenile court found the allegation of arson in the petition to be true. A contested restitution hearing was held on September 26, 2023. K.F. was present at the restitution hearing with counsel, during which the juvenile court received testimony and evidence concerning the losses suffered by the victim due to the fire. As part of the evidentiary basis for the contested…