Jonathan Barajas Nava of New Mexico pleaded guilty today to setting fire to a Yucaipa preschool in April 2024.
His Jan. 17 federal plea agreement claims responsibility for the April 24 fire at the Retreat Church and Yucaipa Christian Preschool in Yucaipa.
He started the fire by pouring gas from a gasoline can on the front door of the church. The fire damaged only the church’s interior carpet, the doorframe and the outdoor mat, the plea agreement says. Staff and 48 children present at the church’s daycare were not injured.
Two 911 callers reported the fire after Nava started it. One of the callers, who
