People v. Sloop CA6

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On May 1, 2024, at approximately 3:54 a.m., the victim Dean Burnam woke up to find his two vehicles engulfed in flames in the driveway of his home, which is located on the corner of Highland Street and Plumas Avenue1 in Seaside. A neighbor called 911 and the fire department extinguished the fire. Home surveillance videos from Burnam’s home captured the arson. The videos showed that at approximately 3:46 a.m., an unknown suspect approached Burnam’s driveway from Plumas Avenue wearing a

1 Plumas Avenue runs east to west. sweater with a hood, which covered the suspect’s face, long pants, and gloves. The suspect then opened a container, poured a liquid on the windshield of Burnam’s Honda Pilot SUV, and ignited the flame. At approximately 3:49 a.m., there was a bright flash, and a fire erupted immediately after. The flames engulfed the Honda and also burned the car parked directly next to it. Seconds later, the perpetrator fled eastbound on Plumas Avenue. A neighbor who lives on the corner opposite the victim, near Plumas Avenue and Mescal Street,2 also captured the suspect’s movements on home surveillance videos. The videos showed a dark-colored…