Jury finds local man guilty of arson
–A San Luis Obispo County jury found Jesse L. Hubble guilty of Arson of an Inhabited Structure and Arson of Personal Property, both felonies. The prosecution stems from a Nov. 26, 2017 incident within the City of Arroyo Grande, wherein Hubble ignited two fires in the same neighborhood.
On Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, a San Luis Obispo County jury found Jesse Lee Hubble guilty of Arson of an Inhabited Structure in violation of Penal Code section 451(b) and Arson of Personal Property in violation of Penal Code section 451(d), both felonies. Additionally, the jury found that Hubble had suffered a prior conviction for First Degree Residential Burglary in 2016 out of our county (a violent felony under California’s Three Strikes Law) and that Hubble had served a prior prison term for Felony Identity Theft out of our county in 2016. Hubble faces a maximum sentence of 24 years and 8 months in state prison.
The jury returned their verdict after a week-long trial and less than one hour of deliberations.
At approximately 10 p.m. on Nov. 26, 2017, Hubble ignited a fire in the bed of a pick-up truck in the driveway of 404 Pecan Street in Arroyo Grande. The fire quickly spread engulfing the truck, a nearby utility trailer and ultimately the residence. When fire personnel arrived the occupant was attempting unsuccessfully to extinguish the blaze with a water hose. Hubble also ignited a separate fire within the green waste container located at the residence of 439 Pecan Street. No one was injured by either fire, although a family pet was severely injured by fire at 404 Pecan. The amount of property damage is estimated to be in excess of $500,000.
Sentencing in this case is scheduled for Dec. 3, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 7 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Craig Van Rooyen presiding.
The case was investigated by the City of Arroyo Grande Police Department with the assistance of the Five Cities Fire Authority, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, California Department of Justice, and the San Luis Obispo County Office of the District Attorney Bureau of Investigation. The matter was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christopher Peuvrelle.
Please direct any press inquiries to Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at (805) 781-5800.
