El Cajon

A judge placed a mentally handicapped man on five years’ probation Monday for his role in the arson deaths of three residents of a board and care home in El Cajon.

David Giles, 20, was given credit for the 1 1/2 years he has spent in County Jail and at Chino State Prison since his arrest following the deadly fire Feb. 6, 1986, at the Linda Turman Guest Home.

Giles was ordered to spend at least six months in the Alpine Convalescent Center and to remain in a custodial setting during the next five years.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Wayne Peterson set a review hearing for Jan. 11 to monitor Giles’ progress.

Under the order, Giles may be searched at any time for flammable materials and may not possess such items. He was ordered not to leave the Alpine center without a responsible adult.

Giles pleaded guilty Feb. 17 to three counts of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Mark Buis, 33; Pietra Corrao, 47, and Patty Melton, 33.

The judge said Giles, whose IQ is between 80 and 92, is mildly retarded and suffers from schizophrenia.

“I think it was an exceptionally fair sentence,” said Giles’ attorney, Bill Youmans.

Giles admitted setting fire to fingernail polish he had spilled on some newspapers on a sofa. The home’s fire alarm system did not go off because the alarms had been turned off.

The home’s former manager, Nayoma Raleigh, 41, of El Cajon, was convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter in a trial last year and was sentenced to two years in prison. Judge William Kennedy modified that sentence in April and placed her on probation.