A San Bernardino County man has been sentenced to life in jail just a little over a 12 months after he set two individuals on fireplace in a pickup truck in Johnson Valley, a small group within the excessive desert.
Joshua Kaiser was convicted of tried homicide, arson and home violence within the wake of the vicious assault on his ex-girlfriend — with whom he shares two youngsters — and a person she’d requested for a experience, in response to the San Bernardino County district lawyer’s workplace. The assault happened on June 18 final 12 months, Father’s Day.
The day of the incident, Kaiser and his ex-girlfriend received right into a battle on a rural, five-acre parcel close to State Freeway 247 the place a number of individuals resided in scattered dwellings. He left the property to get gasoline for a generator that powered one of many properties.
Whereas he was gone, his ex-girlfriend requested a male customer for a experience off the property. The person didn’t know her or Kaiser; he was there to scrub the house of a buddy who was away for a number of months.
The person’s truck wouldn’t begin, and so they had been sitting inside it when Kaiser returned, gasoline canister in hand. In response to the district lawyer’s workplace, the person was relieved to see Kaiser, considering he may assist jump-start the truck.
Upon seeing the pair within the pickup, prosecutors mentioned, Kaiser grew indignant and advised his ex, “You’re not going to love what’s going to occur subsequent.” Then he doused the 2 with gasoline contained in the truck and lighted a number of matches, igniting the car and setting them ablaze.
As he poured the gasoline, he mentioned, “Pleased Father’s Day,” the district lawyer’s workplace mentioned.
The pair escaped the car, dropping to roll within the dust to place out the flames. However Kaiser adopted the person, dousing him with gasoline and lighting him on fireplace a second and third time. Lastly, Kaiser fled on a motorbike.
Each survived, however the lady suffered burns throughout the left aspect of her physique. The person’s burns lined almost 80% of his physique and brought on in depth scarring. He spent three weeks in intensive care, together with 13 days in an induced coma.
Kaiser was arrested a number of weeks later. He pleaded not responsible in October 2023, however a jury discovered him responsible on all counts in March.
He was sentenced to twenty years in state jail adopted by two consecutive sentences of 14 years to life for every sufferer.
