Sheriff's Deputies Arrest Man for Arson

Carpinteria - September 19th, 2011

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man for a series of arson fires in Carpinteria over the weekend.

On Sunday, September 18, 2011, deputies from the Carpinteria Station responded to five different fires between the 5:50am and 7:14am. Each fire had been illegally set in various trashcans at the following locations in the city of Carpinteria:

Cabo’s Baja Grill and Cantina, 5096 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria; there was a fire in two outside trashcans.  The only damage was to the trashcans.

City Market Center, 5296 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria; there was a fire in an outside trashcan.  The building suffered smoke damage and an outside vending machine was destroyed.

Montecito Bank and Trust, 1023 Casitas Pass Rd, Carpinteria; there was a fire in an outside trashcan.  The only damage was to the trashcan.

McDonalds, 1115 Casitas Pass Rd, Carpinteria; a fire was set in a trashcan, inside the bathroom of the restaurant.  The building suffered smoke damage and damage to the trashcan.

AM/PM, 1116 Casitas Pass Rd, Carpinteria; a fire was set in a trashcan inside of the building’s bathroom.  The building suffered smoke damage and damage to the trashcan.

Deputies found evidence at the AM/PM that led to suspect information.  The suspect, Brian Dean Rathbun (DOB 10/14/59) of Carpinteria, was later found after 10:00am at the Carpinteria State Park.  He was detained by Sheriff’s deputies, and later arrested on five counts of arson.

Sheriff’s deputies booked Rathbun into the Santa Barbara County Jail on two counts of arson (451(b) PC) and three counts of arson (415(d) PC).  His bail was set at $250,000.00.

451.  A person is guilty of arson when he or she willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning of, any structure, forest land, or property.

(b) Arson that causes an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for three, five, or eight years.

(d) Arson of property is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, two, or three years. For purposes of this paragraph, arson of property does not include one burning or causing to be burned his or her own personal property unless there is an intent to defraud or there is injury to another person or another person's structure, forest land, or property.

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org