People v. Valencia CA2/1

BACKGROUND

As described at the preliminary hearing, on July 24, 1998, a West Covina bookstore employee saw Valencia pouring what smelled like gasoline over a book display; Valencia told her, “‘I’ve just got to do that,’” lit the gasoline, and ran out of the store. A fire marshal who examined the scene testified that the cause of the fire was arson. On August 13, 1998, at a Best Western Hotel in West Covina, two hotel guests reported a smell of gas and smoke on the third floor, and the fire alarm system activated. The fire department put out a fire in room 309, which Valencia had rented for the night with cash. A red plastic container similar to a gasoline can was in the bathroom, and a television set, dresser, carpet and bedding were burned. A fire department captain concluded that three or four separate fires had been set in the room. Also on August 13, the manager of a Lucky supermarket heard a clerk yelling that some man was setting the store on fire. The manager ran down an aisle and saw flames at the end, and saw Valencia with charcoal lighter fluid in his hand, squirting the paper towels. He yelled, “‘What the hell are you doing?’” and Valencia pulled a baseball bat out of…