Cathedral City Arsonist Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to 6 Years In Prison

A Cathedral City man suspected of starting a fire that damaged eight businesses pleaded guilty in a Riverside County courtroom on Monday and was sentenced to six years in prison and eventually five years of parole.

During the hearing, judge Harold Hopps said Hernandez could’ve been sentenced up to 13 years in prison if he hadn’t admitted to starting the fire. Deputy district attourney Steven Morgan said there was more than enough evidence to convict Hernandez.

Jesus Abel Hernandez, 48, had been held in lieu of $1.25 million bail since his arrest on Dec. 6 after a fire he admitted setting sparked an explosion in Date Palm Plaza in Cathedral City.

“I think the sentence was deserved … time to pay for the crime,” said Jose Orduno, a customer at the plaza’s La Taqueria and Tortilla Factory.

Hernandez, an employee at La Michoacana Carniceria, where the fire started, allegedly told authorities he set the fire to commit insurance fraud.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Harold W. Hopp dismissed a felony burglary charge against Hernandez in exchange for his plea, in which he agreed to pay $1.5 million in restitution to Colco-Date Palm L.P., the owner of the damaged building.

“Is it true you destroyed property valued in excess of $200,000?” Hopp asked the defendant.

“Yes,” said Hernandez, who had a Spanish interpreter in court.

He gave the same answer when asked by the judge, “Is it true that on Dec. 5, 2011, you set fire to and burned a structure as alleged in count 1?”

The blaze put about 120 people out of work, city spokesman Allen Howe said. Residents and businesses collected food, toys, gift cards and money for families affected by the blaze, and distributed the toys at nearby Cello’s Bistro a few days before Christmas. Howe said about $2,000 in cash donations were collected.