The State - News from Nov. 17, 1988

The 16-year-old son of two Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientists faces up to nine years detention for accidentally burning down five Orinda homes with a chemical explosion. Brian Cooper will be sentenced Dec. 1 and faces a maximum penalty that could place him with the California Youth Authority until he reaches age 25. The high school student was found guilty of eight felony counts in the $2-million fire last Aug. 30. On the same day as his court conviction, he brought home a report card with nearly straight A’s. Authorities said tinder dry grass was ignited by an explosion that resulted from the youth’s mixture of chemicals in front of his home. The flames spread to surrounding homes.