Man Who Set Son Afire Is in Court Again
A man convicted of setting his son on fire pleaded not guilty Monday to felony charges of threatening a prosecutor.
Charley Charles, 66, formerly known as Charles Rothenberg, faces three counts of threatening a public official and three of making threats.
In 1983, Charles gave his son a sleeping pill before dousing their Buena Park motel room with kerosene, lighting the fuel and leaving.
The boy survived, suffering third-degree burns over 90% of his body.
Charles was given a 13-year sentence -- the maximum at the time -- but was released after 6 1/2 years for good behavior.
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