In Re Castro

A startling concatenation of arson fires in and near a workingmen’s residential quarter in Bakersfield during the fall of 1965 alerted the local peace officers and the fire department to the necessity of finding the pyromaniac. After concentrated efforts, the supposed instigator was identified as a minor of the age of 16 years, who resided in the quarter. A petition was filed by Bill G. Williamson of the Kern County Probation Department alleging that Baltazar Castro, aged 16 years, came within the provisions of section 602 of the Welfare and Institutions Code in that he violated the laws of the State of California in the following particulars : count I alleged that on or about August 20, 1965, he wilfully and maliciously set fire to the Zellerbaeh Paper Company warehouse, located at 1012 Union Avenue, Bakersfield, California, thereby violating section 448a of the Penal Code of California; count II averred that on or about September 28, 1965, he was guilty of arson with respect to a dwelling house at 419 Bast 9th Street, Bakersfield, thereby violating section 447a of the Penal Code of California; and count III stated that on or about October 22, 1965, he committed arson at the…