News

Man accused of starting Cranston Fire pleads not guilty to all charges

Published July 31, 2018 1:09 PM

32-year-old Temecula man charged with intentionally starting nine fires, including the Cranston Fire still growing in the Idyllwild area.

Brandon N. McGlover was charged Friday by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office with 15 felony counts related to nine separate fires. The nine arson fires were all set the same day, July 25, and were in the Idyllwild, Anza, and Sage areas.

He has been charged with one count of aggravated arson, five counts of arson of an inhabited structure, and nine counts of arson of forest or wildland. If convicted as currently charged, McGlover faces a potential life sentence.

McGlover was arraigned today at 1:30 p.m. at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. He plead not guilty to all 15 charges. His bail was raised from $1 million to $3.5 million.

“This is an unusual case in that we are here in an arraignment on an ongoing crime. It’s a continuing crime because if anything should happen if damage increases or if there are any injuries we can amend the complaint and add additional charges,” said John Hall, public information officer for the DA.

McGlover’s attorney, Joseph Camarata, told reporters his client was not responsible for the fire.

“What I will say on behalf of Brandon and his family is that our thoughts and prayers are with the first responders that are battling these fires right now, and the families that are affected by them,” Camarata said. “If these fires were intentionally started, our hope is that the person responsible is found, so that this does not happen again.”

McGlover was arrested at around about 1 p.m. on Wednesday in the area of State Street and Old Newport Road in Hemet. The arrest happened after a series of fires believed to have been intentionally set broke out in Southwest Riverside County. Information about a possible arson suspect was
developed by arson investigators with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire.