The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A Florida man who was reportedly in a romantic relationship with his cousin was recently arrested for allegedly setting her car on fire in April.
According to reports, on April 29, a 37-year-old man from Miami allegedly lit a Jaguar XE sedan on fire that belonged to his cousin, who was also his girlfriend, on fire while it was parked in front of his house.
When the police learned about the incident and found that the man’s girlfriend was the owner of the vehicle, they tried but were unsuccessful in speaking to her until September 11. When they initially asked her about the car fire, the woman told them the vehicle ignited while she was operating it due to a mechanical issue.
On September 15, the woman and her boyfriend/cousin were at Miami’s Bayside Marketplace. Things reportedly turned sour when he got the impression that a bartender was flirting with her. He allegedly got angry and took her purse before abandoning her without a ride home.
She called the authorities to let them know what happened, and the woman added that her boyfriend was the one who set her car on fire. She said she was unable to tell the truth when they first spoke because the man forced her to put the call on speakerphone. She said she was afraid of him because he had a fully automatic firearm with a high-capacity magazine.
The man was taken into custody at gunpoint and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. He is facing preliminary charges of second-degree arson and third-degree grand theft. He was reportedly jailed in lieu of a $12,500 bond.
The authorities reported that they had video footage of the man setting the vehicle on fire.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a criminal offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.