San Diego
A Clairemont man suspected of setting fire to two San Diego churches was ordered held in jail Friday in lieu of $250,000 bail.
Alvan Sylvestre, 21, pleaded not guilty to two arson and two burglary charges stemming from fires last week at St. David’s Episcopal Church and Pioneer United Church of Christ, both in Clairemont.
Notes left at both church fires claim responsibility for eight other fires, including one at a Chinese restaurant, Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Waters said.
Waters said the arsonist signed the notes “Big A” and told investigators not to bother checking the notes for fingerprints because he was wearing gloves.
The fires were started by igniting a Bible and vestments at one church, and a mattress at the other, said Waters.
The other incidents referred to in the arsonist’s note were car fires.
Sylvestre had been held in County Jail in lieu of $50,000 since his arrest Wednesday. Waters asked Municipal Judge Larry Stirling to increase the bail to $250,000.
“I didn’t feel that was enough,” Waters said of the earlier bail.
A preliminary hearing has been set for June 20.
The fire at St. David’s Episcopal caused more than $400,000 damage. Pioneer United Church of Christ suffered $20,000 in damage.
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