Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Terrorizing Neighbors : Courts: An Arleta resident pleads guilty to harassing a family he thought was Jewish.

A 28-year-old Arleta man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday immediately after pleading guilty to charges he set fire to his neighbors’ house, spray-painted swastikas on the walls, and shot into the dwelling.

Paul Myron Downing pleaded guilty in San Fernando Superior Court to eight felony charges, including arson and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and two misdemeanors. Downing sat with folded arms and showed no emotion as San Fernando Superior Court Judge Malcolm Mackey pronounced sentence.

“This bizarre conduct . . . will not be tolerated,” Mackey said. “Bigotry and racism, whether it’s individuals or the Police Department, will not be tolerated.”

Downing’s attorney, Harold S. Vites, said his client had “some psychiatric difficulties in the past” and had been seen by psychiatrists, although not during the two years the crimes were committed. The court ruled that the defendant was mentally competent to stand trial.

Downing lived with his mother and grandmother and was unemployed, Vites said.

Downing began harassing John Ruiz and his family at their home in the 13900 block of Nordhoff Street in May, 1988, Deputy Dist. Atty. Lori Dery said. Downing thought the Catholic family was Jewish because Ruiz donated money to a Jewish charity and received its literature in the mail, Dery said.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mackey dabbed his eyes repeatedly as members of the Ruiz family described their fright.

“We were desperate,” Ruiz said. “I was forced to make rounds of my house every evening, such as a guard would.”

Eight fires were set at his house, several in the middle of the night when the entire family was there, he said. Downing shot into the house on several occasions.

“The first shooting occurred on the night of my mother’s death,” when the house was full of relatives who had gathered to mourn, Ruiz said.

Ruiz also said he lost his job as a result of the stress and that he and his wife were forced to send their daughter to live with relatives. The couple plan to sell their house and move, despite Downing’s imprisonment.

“For the rest of our lives, we are going to have to live in hiding from this man,” Ruiz said.