Two arson suspects charged, judge orders $35,000 bond
Two Gonzales residents have been jailed and charged with arson in connection with a July 16 incident in which a travel trailer and tractor were destroyed.
Jesus Fidencio "Chuy" Padilla, 17, and Jonathan Lynn Guerra, 23, were both placed under $35,000 bond by Judge David Bird last week.
Both suspects have been charged with arson of a habitation, arson of a vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The incident was reported at around 9:30 a.m., when the Gonzales Fire Department was dispatched to County Road 237. That road connects to Farm Road 794, commonly known as Harwood Road. When firemen arrived on the scene, they found a travel trailer and a Ford tractor on fire. At a separate nearby location, a pickup truck was found which had been burned.
According to Harry Bower Jr., deputy state fire marshal, the owner of the property was identified as Steve Morisak of Houston who used the property for ranching and had the camping trailer as a living quarters.
According to Bower, the two are accused of using the Ford tractor, which also belonged to Morisak, to ram the travel trailer. It is believed they did that in order to gain access to the trailer for a burglary. Officials say the two then set the trailer on fire, which also caused the tractor to burn.
The probable cause warrant states that Padilla and Guerra were observed walking down County Road 238 less than a mile from both fire scenes.
Deputies from the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office found the two walking down the road and reported they both smelled like some kind of fuel. Both were detained by authorities.
According to the warrant, Padilla gave a voluntary statement in which "he admitted that he and Jonathan Guerra stole a truck" the previous night. That truck was stolen from near E-Barr Feed and the listed owner was Bill Christian.
Police statements indicate when they found the truck, it was not yet reported stolen because nobody knew it had been taken the previous night. Padilla told the fire investigator that he and Guerra drove the truck "to several locations" during the night and then the next morning, they used the vehicle to crash through the gate of the property where they told investigators they hid the truck and set it on fire.
Padilla further stated he and Guerra used a tractor to ram a travel trailer and also burglarized the trailer, taking the items which were recovered on their persons when they were detained.
Padilla said in the statement that it was Guerra who poured diesel fuel inside the travel trailer and set it on fire. He said they then hid in the bushes for a while, entered another residence in the area and then made their way back to the road where they were detained by authorities. Sheriff Glen Sachtleben said authorities are investigating the two as possibly being involved in other area thefts in the county.
Jesus Fidencio "Chuy" Padilla, 17, and Jonathan Lynn Guerra, 23, were both placed under $35,000 bond by Judge David Bird last week.
Both suspects have been charged with arson of a habitation, arson of a vehicle and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
The incident was reported at around 9:30 a.m., when the Gonzales Fire Department was dispatched to County Road 237. That road connects to Farm Road 794, commonly known as Harwood Road. When firemen arrived on the scene, they found a travel trailer and a Ford tractor on fire. At a separate nearby location, a pickup truck was found which had been burned.
According to Harry Bower Jr., deputy state fire marshal, the owner of the property was identified as Steve Morisak of Houston who used the property for ranching and had the camping trailer as a living quarters.
According to Bower, the two are accused of using the Ford tractor, which also belonged to Morisak, to ram the travel trailer. It is believed they did that in order to gain access to the trailer for a burglary. Officials say the two then set the trailer on fire, which also caused the tractor to burn.
The probable cause warrant states that Padilla and Guerra were observed walking down County Road 238 less than a mile from both fire scenes.
Deputies from the Gonzales County Sheriff's Office found the two walking down the road and reported they both smelled like some kind of fuel. Both were detained by authorities.
According to the warrant, Padilla gave a voluntary statement in which "he admitted that he and Jonathan Guerra stole a truck" the previous night. That truck was stolen from near E-Barr Feed and the listed owner was Bill Christian.
Police statements indicate when they found the truck, it was not yet reported stolen because nobody knew it had been taken the previous night. Padilla told the fire investigator that he and Guerra drove the truck "to several locations" during the night and then the next morning, they used the vehicle to crash through the gate of the property where they told investigators they hid the truck and set it on fire.
Padilla further stated he and Guerra used a tractor to ram a travel trailer and also burglarized the trailer, taking the items which were recovered on their persons when they were detained.
Padilla said in the statement that it was Guerra who poured diesel fuel inside the travel trailer and set it on fire. He said they then hid in the bushes for a while, entered another residence in the area and then made their way back to the road where they were detained by authorities. Sheriff Glen Sachtleben said authorities are investigating the two as possibly being involved in other area thefts in the county.