Potential charges against Cranston fire arson suspect more than double
A Temecula man in custody for allegedly sparking the wildfire that has destroyed five homes and burned through thousands of acres in the Idyllwild area is likely to face several additional charges when the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office files its complaint.
Few details have emerged publicly about Brandon N. McGlover, 32, who was arrested Wednesday, July 25, on suspicion of five counts of arson in connection with the Cranston fire. A possible motive for the alleged arson also remained a mystery.
On Thursday, five counts of arson of an inhabited structure and one count of aggravated arson were added in the jail log. The Penal Code section for aggravated arson applies to cases in which fires where five or more structures are burned.
A court date has not been set, but indications are that McGlover will be arraigned Friday, July 27.
McGlover remained in custody Thursday with bail set at $1 million. He was transferred from the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta to the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on Thursday.
Little is publicly known about McGlover. He does not have a documented criminal record in Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego or Orange counties. McGlover previously lived in Oceanside.
The white Honda he was seen driving Wednesday was last registered in Hemet, but a public records search failed to locate an address for him there.
Only one relative could be reached by phone Thursday. A woman who answered the phone said, “I have nothing to say” and hung up. No one answered the door at McGlover’s home Thursday, and neighbors said they didn’t know him.
McGlover does not appear to have a social media presence.
There were, however, plenty of mentions of him on social media Thursday by people — some who were directly affected by the fire — who wanted to exact justice.
“We’re losing our house for the second time in 5 years in the very same spot,” a person who identified herself as Kay Kaye wrote on the Facebook page Hemet News. “Literally watching it happen. I’m too sick for this. I can’t do it anymore. My health is failing and this makes it so much more difficult to go through. That man needs to feel a hurt he’s never known existed. He needs to suffer the pain, physically and emotionally, that I am feeling now. That man needs to die a painful, excruciating death just as I am.”
McGlover was arrested about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Newport Road and State Street, south of Hemet after witnesses told authorities they saw him start multiple fires, including the Cranston fire that had burned more than 7,000 acres as of Thursday night. At least one witness followed McGlover and provided a description of his car, allowing authorities to capture him.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department did not respond Thursday to a request for additional information on the case, such as any potential motive and what evidence was recovered.