THOUSAND OAKS : Man’s Arraignment in Arson Case Delayed

Arraignment for the suspect charged with the arson of a Thousand Oaks comic-book store was postponed Wednesday because he is getting a new attorney.

Christopher Nagano, 20, will be arraigned Tuesday in Ventura County Municipal Court. He is in the process of hiring attorney Louis B. Samonsky, who said he would seek a reduction in Nagano’s $500,000 bail at the arraignment hearing.

The Heroes and Legends comic-book store was gutted by fire on Sept. 18.

Initially, the arson was believed to be a hate crime because swastikas and other anti-Semitic writing was spray-painted on the building.

But prosecutors have since discounted that theory.

Although prosecutors obtained an eight-minute videotape of the fire, Samonsky said Nagano did not videotape the fire, nor is he shown on the tape.