Man pleads not guilty to arson

A Fullerton man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he set fires in three Dumpsters in Newport Beach, court records show.

Joshua Adam Giffin, 23, is accused of starting fires in two Dumpsters outside of the Rusty Pelican, 2735 W. Coast Hwy., and setting fire to another at a nearby business complex, the Newport Beach Police Department said.

About 3:20 a.m. Saturday, Newport Beach police officers saw the fires at the Rusty Pelican, and then about 30 minutes later discovered another Dumpster fire near the business complex, police said.

Firefighters reported seeing a suspicious-looking man in the area after extinguishing fires at both locations.

Officers arrested Giffin a short while later after they discovered evidence linking him to the fires, police said.

Giffin is expected in court Aug. 28.

— Lauren Williams

Twitter: @lawilliams30