Home wrecker gets 9 months in jail

A Live Oak man who tried to burn down his foreclosed home, causing an explosion that rocked his neighborhood, was sentenced Thursday in Sutter County Superior Court to nine months in jail.

Visiting Judge James F. Dawson also ordered five years formal probation for Juan Jose Luna, who was 29 at the time of the June 2007 explosion and fire in the 2800 block of Elm Street.

Luna sloshed gasoline throughout the house, then stood at the back door with a cigarette lighter. The lighter's flame set off an explosion that pushed the homes walls out 2 feet and blew the back door against Luna's hand, nearly severing two fingers.

Only earthquake strapping kept the walls from being blown down, a Sutter County Fire Department lieutenant said at an earlier court hearing.

The explosion sent glass flying 90 feet. Neighbors found Luna in the area with two fingers hanging by strips of flesh and others broken.

A crew member of a helicopter that took Luna to a Sacramento hospital noticed his clothes smelled of gasoline. Luna asked to have them thrown away.

Luna had $8,000 in cash with him.

Luna pleaded no contest earlier to one count of arson of an inhabited dwelling. A charge of insurance fraud was dismissed during plea negotiations.

Luna has already paid $9,654 restitution to the fire department, his attorney, Jesse Santana, told the judge.

Sutter County Fire Chief Dan Yager said the amount covers the cost of his department's response and the subsequent arson investigation.

Dawson reserved jurisdiction in case anyone with a stake in the home comes forward.

Deputy District Attorney Chris Carlos said no other claimants have materialized, but the lender who held the mortgage would be a victim.

At an earlier hearing, a Sutter County Sheriff's Department detective testified that he called a San Francisco mortgage company and learned there were three liens on the house, which had been appraised at $135,000, not including land.

Under formal probation, Luna is subject to being searched at any time and must register as a convicted arsonist. He cannot own or have a gun in his possession for the rest of his life.

If Luna violates probation terms, he could be subject to five years in prison, Dawson said.

Luna has a "minimal" criminal history, Santana told the judge.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 530-749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.