Covina Man Pleads Guilty to Setting Forest Fires

A Covina man pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court Monday to setting two fires that destroyed more than 12,800 acres of the San Bernardino National Forest.

James Lonczak, a carpenter and handyman for the Monrovia-based international relief organization World Vision, admitted throwing lighted cigarettes attached to matches into the brush near Lytle Creek on at least two occasions last year.

Federal prosecutors have said a total of 24 fires were set under similar circumstances during a three-month period last summer.

In one case, Assistant U.S. Atty. Adam B. Schiff said, Lonczak was photographed by U.S. Forest Service video cameras driving into and leaving the area near a 35-acre blaze on Aug. 27.

Lonczak also has admitted touching off a brush fire in the Texas Hills region north of Rancho Cucamonga that eventually burned 12,800 acres and destroyed a home, several garages and cars.

In a statement to U.S. District Judge John G. Davies, Lonczak said he drove about half a mile into Lytle Creek Canyon on Aug. 27, made a U-turn, then threw out a burning cigarette with a match attached to it. Lonczak said he started the Sept. 28 Texas Hills blaze in a similar manner.

Defense attorney Lindsay Weston refused to comment on why Lonczak started the fires.

Lonczak faces up to 10 years in prison and a $500,000 fine when he is sentenced Feb. 27. He also could be liable for restitution to cover the government’s estimated $2.1 million in firefighting and reseeding costs.