Man Pleads Not Guilty to Arson Charges, Including Hate Crime, in Yucaipa Church Fire

Man Pleads Not Guilty to Arson Charges in Connection with Church Fire in Yucaipa

A shocking incident occurred in Yucaipa on April 24, 2024, when a man threw a gas can at the Retreat Church on Avenue H, causing fire and smoke damage to the building. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department identified the suspect as Jonathan Nava, a 36-year-old man who has since been charged with three arson-related crimes, including a hate crime.

Nava, originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday, April 29, via closed circuit television from the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. The charges against him include two counts of arson of inhabited structures and one count of arson to terrorize.

The motive behind the attack on the church remains unclear, as Battalion Chief Alison Hesterly of Cal Fire’s San Bernardino Unit declined to provide details, citing the ongoing investigation. The church, which also houses the Yucaipa Christian Preschool, sustained damage to a carpet outside and some smoke damage as a result of the fire.

In addition to the church fire, authorities also discovered a second fire at a nearby business on County Line Road during their investigation. The collaboration between local authorities, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the state Fire Marshal led to the identification and subsequent arrest of Nava.

The arrest took place after deputies responded to a crash involving a pickup truck on Yucaipa Boulevard, where Nava was attempting to free the vehicle. As a deputy approached the vehicle, the interior cabin was set on fire, leading to Nava sustaining fire-related injuries to his leg. He was then taken into custody for questioning.

Hate crimes, particularly those involving property offenses like vandalism and arson, have been a concerning issue in recent years. According to the FBI, in 2020, 74.1% of hate crime offenses classified as crimes against property were acts of vandalism, while arson accounted for the remaining 25.9%.

Nava is scheduled to appear in court again on May 6 as the investigation into the church fire and related incidents continues. The community of Yucaipa remains on edge following this disturbing act of arson, but authorities are working diligently to ensure justice is served in this case.