Ex-Clothing Executive Held on Arson Charge

The former vice president of a financially troubled clothing manufacturing plant was arrested Thursday on arson charges in connection with a $1-million fire at the company’s San Fernando plant last year.

Victor Soto, 36, of Valencia surrendered at San Fernando police headquarters after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest, San Fernando police said. He was booked on one count of arson and held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Soto was vice president of Tailored Baby Inc., which owned a block-long facility at 500 Library St. that was substantially damaged by the Dec. 18 fire. Investigators determined soon after the fire that it had been deliberately set. The arrest followed an investigation by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Soto killed the majority owner of the firm, Aaron Thomas, in February, shooting him when Thomas attacked him with a hammer during an office argument, he said. Police investigators ruled at the time that the killing was in self-defense.

The company, which made clothing for infants and small children, had been facing financial problems based in part on the federally ordered recall of one of its products, police said.