Psychiatric Testing Ordered for Arsonist

Convicted Silver Strand arsonist Rhonda Denise Erving was ordered Wednesday to spend 90 days at a women’s diagnostics facility to undergo psychiatric evaluations.

Erving, a 43-year-old dockworker, was found guilty in October of setting or trying to set a series of fires that terrorized the Silver Strand beach community more than three years ago.

Although she was linked by authorities to more than 30 fires in Silver Strand between late 1992 and early 1993, Erving was only charged with seven felony arsons and attempted arsons.

She was convicted on each count and faces up to six years in state prison. But that sentencing was delayed after the county’s probation department recommended that she first undergo psychiatric evaluation.

“What that means is they will send her to the Department of Corrections, they will evaluate her and decide whether she is treatable on probation,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Richard Simon, who was not pleased with the decision.

“My own view is given the statements she has made, she is not suitable for probation,” Simon said. “I don’t think we are going to gain anything from this.”

Defense attorney Bill Maxwell was also unhappy with the ruling by Municipal Judge Arturo Gutierrez, who followed the recommendation of the probation report.

Maxwell’s contention was that Erving does not need an evaluation because she did not commit the crimes. Maxwell did say, however, that his client is “almost a perfect candidate for probation.”

Erving’s conviction closed a mysterious case that baffled fire investigators for seven months in 1992 and 1993 as trash cans, cars, boats and the interior of one family’s home burned.

Oxnard police arrested Erving last year in connection with the fires.