Almost every arson case rests on one thing: a fire investigator’s conclusion about how and where the fire started, and whether an accelerant was used. That conclusion arrives at trial wrapped in the authority of forensic science — but the science behind it is far more contestable than a police report makes it sound, and…
If you’ve been arrested or charged with arson in Riverside County, two facts about a conviction matter more than anything else, and a Murrieta arson attorney should walk you through both of them in the first conversation. The first is that Penal Code § 451 — California’s malicious arson statute (“PC” is shorthand for the…
Not every fire that gets out of control is arson. California law draws a sharp line between deliberately, maliciously setting a fire and recklessly causing one — and that line decides whether you are facing the state’s most serious fire charge or a far less severe one. If you are under investigation or have been…
Looking through recent news reports from California, you’re bound to find a few discussing investigations of arson, ranging from an alleged attempt to cause an explosion at a fraternity house to the origins of a suspicious brush fire. Though arson can take on many forms, it generally involves setting a fire deliberately or recklessly to…
If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges in Southwest Riverside County, time is critical. Contact the Law Office of Nic Cocis today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
