Man Pleads Guilty to Arson Charge

This story was written by City New Service.

A man who intentionally set a car on fire in Imperial Beach last month pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony arson charge and two misdemeanor counts of violating a restraining order.

Manuel David Oceguera, 25, will be sentenced to a year in jail at a June 20 hearing, said Deputy District Attorney Carolyn Matzger.

Members of the sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit determined the fire, which erupted on 7th Street shortly before 5 a.m. on April 21, was intentionally set, and evidence found at the scene indicated it may have been started with a Molotov cocktail, according to sheriff's Detective John Debus.

The incident was isolated and not related to other recent fires in the area, he said.

An hour before Oceguera set a car on fire, two teenage boys were arrested for setting a stolen car on fire near Mar Vista Middle School. Earlier in the week fires that may have been intentionally set were also discovered in other parts of Imperial Beach.

Oceguera was arrested and booked into San Diego Central Jail on May 2.

Authorities withheld what led them to identify him as a suspect. The motive was also unclear. The defendant admitted guilt on the day his preliminary hearing was to take place at the South Bay Courthouse.