Daniel Abraham Reyna
Santa Barbara County – When little boys play with matches, things can become dangerous quickly. And when bigger boys—even those who are 19-year-old adults—play with fire, disaster can be the result.
That is allegedly what transpired late on the afternoon of March 12, 2015 at a Santa Maria apartment complex when firefighters responded to the scene to find an upstairs residential unit completely engulfed in flames that ultimately damaged six other apartments, caused more than $1 million in damages, seriously injured one of the building tenants, and displaced more than 30 other residents.
According to Santa Maria Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jesus Valle, the ensuing arson investigation indicated that “the fire was caused by a negligent act” involving “an open flame device” having been “placed in a combustible container” while it was still hot enough to spark a fire. Investigation at the time indicated that a butane lighter which had been used to ignite a hookah pipe was the heat source.
Following more than a year-long investigation, evidence pointed to the culpability of the individual who had recklessly disposed of the lighter, Daniel Abraham Reyna, a 19-year-old hailing from Lake Forest.
An arrest warrant was issued for Reyna, and following his contact by law enforcement in Orange County, he was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail on a felony warrant charging him with arson “by recklessly setting fire or burning any structure or property.”
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail
