Church Arsonist Is Given Seven Years in State Prison
An admitted arsonist was sentenced Monday to more than seven years in state prison for setting two fires at two churches in attacks that terrorized several religious communities in Clairemont last year.
Alban Doyle Sylvestre, 22, pleaded guilty last month to setting the fires, one of which destroyed St. David’s Episcopal Church at 5050 Milton St.
The May 29, 1991, blaze at St. David’s caused more than $400,000 worth of damage. Another fire the next day, at Pioneer United Church of Christ at 2550 Fairfield St., caused $15,000 in damage.
“He literally terrorized the Clairemont community,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Jim Waters said. “He left notes at both scenes threatening to kill the next time he set a fire. He characterized himself as the Clairemont arsonist.”
Superior Court Judge Charles R. Hayes sentenced Sylvestre to seven years and four months in state prison and suggested that state officials house Sylvestre at a prison that includes mental health care facilities.
Last year, Sylvestre was found incompetent to stand trial, but, after spending more than six months in Patton State Mental Hospital, another judge ruled that the Clairemont man could help represent himself in court.
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