Man Convicted in Mustang Arson
In his second trial on the same charges, a Bellflower man was convicted of arson Thursday in connection with a $100,000 blaze at the Mustang nightclub in Santa Ana in January.
George Manriquez, 47, who faces a maximum of 8 years in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge John J. Ryan in Santa Ana on Dec. 16.
A separate trial on the same charge is pending for a co-defendant, Melvin Oldham.
Orange County prosecutors claim that the two men were hired by one of the numerous owners of the topless bar, whose name they have refused to disclose.
Manriquez’ first trial earlier this year ended in a hung jury. On Thursday, jurors returned a guilty verdict after only 2 hours of deliberations.
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