Local News in Brief : Man Charged With 17 Counts in Salon Fires

A Panorama City machinist was charged Monday with arson, burglary and attempted burglary in a string of fires and break-ins at San Fernando Valley beauty salons.

Rickey Jiminez was charged with 11 counts of arson, three counts of commercial burglary, one count of attempted commercial burglary and two counts of burglary from a motor vehicle.

Jiminez, 33, pleaded not guilty to the charges in Van Nuys Municipal Court. Commissioner Patricia Gorner Schwartz scheduled Jiminez’s preliminary hearing June 29.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Christine A. Thurman said the crimes with which Jiminez is charged occurred between April 18 and Thursday, when he was arrested by Los Angeles police.

All but three fires occurred at beauty salons in North Hollywood, Van Nuys and Panorama City, Thurman said. Jiminez also is accused of setting a fire at a North Hollywood swimming pool filter company and of burglarizing two vans.

Jiminez was arrested Thursday by Los Angeles police as he rushed out of the California Nails salon in Van Nuys, where he had allegedly just set fire to a couch. He had been under surveillance by police.

Jiminez’s arson and burglary spree, which police suspect began as early as February, caused more than $1 million damage, authorities said.

Detective Robert Uber said Jiminez apparently selected beauty salons because they were “easy targets.”

Thurman said the investigation into Jiminez’s activities is continuing.

Jiminez is being held in County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. If convicted, Jiminez could be sentenced to a maximum of 16 years in prison, Deputy Dist. Atty. Larry Diamond said.