Rothenberg Says He Won’t Try to See Son

Charles Rothenberg, who was paroled after setting his son on fire seven years ago, said through a spokesman here Thursday that he will honor the boy’s wishes that he stay away.

Rothenberg, who was paroled from a 13-year prison sentence in California on Jan. 24, is believed to be living in the Oakland area.

Before his release, he said he wanted to be reunited with his son, David, who was 6 at the time his father set fire to his bed in a Buena Park motel room. However, the badly disfigured boy, now 13, told a news conference last week that he wished his father could be jailed for life, and that he would never forgive him.

Rothenberg said he saw his son on television and plans to “respect David’s wishes,” said Harry J. Gaynor, president of the National Burn Victim Foundation, a burn victims’ advocacy group. Two days after Rothenberg’s release, Gaynor announced plans to publish Rothenberg’s autobiography and letters.