Arsonist Convicted of Setting Fire to North Park Sports Bar
The man charged with burning down Tuba Man’s Grand Slam Tavern in North Park was convicted Monday of four arson charges.
The San Diego Superior Court jury deliberated about a day before convicting Nader Hanna, 21, who is the son of the bar’s landlord.
The jury found that the Feb. 1 arson of the popular sports bar at 2557 University Ave. exceeded $100,000 in damages.
Judge William Kennedy set sentencing for Aug. 15. Deputy Dist. Atty. Wes Scherman said Hanna could receive a maximum sentence of nine years, four months in state prison.
Kennedy remanded Hanna to jail without bail. He previously was free on a $100,000 bail.
“We could not find a reason for what he did,” Scherman said, and the motive was a mystery.
The four arson charges represent two separate torchings of the bar. The first fire occurred July 7, 1987, and did little damage.
When Hanna was arrested Feb. 3, his face was badly burned and his hands were heavily bandaged. He was being treated at the UCSD Medical Center’s burn unit when arson investigators learned of his presence there.
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