Suspect In Midtown Ventura House Fire Pleads Not Guilty

Monday July 17, 2023

(Photos courtesy Ventura City Fire)

     Updated--The man arrested in connection with a midtown Ventura house fire last week has pleaded not guilty to a felony arson charge.

     29-year-old Alec Pedroza's case was sent to Mental Health Diversion Court where he has two other pending cases.

      Pedroza was found on the roof of the burning single story, single family home in the 3000 block of Porter Lane last Thursday afternoon.

     Ventura City firefighters were able to extinguish the fire in about 18 minutes but it did extensive damage to the interior of the structure and its contents.

     There had been a report of people trapped inside but that turned out not to be true and there were no injuries.

     According to court records, Pedroza has an extensive criminal record.

     He currently already had those two pending cases in Mental Health Diversion Court for felony Criminal Threats, misdemeanor Petty Theft, Hit and Run, and Public Intoxication.

     And he has several prior convictions for, among other things, misdemeanor threats to terrorize, resisting arrest, recklessly causing fire to the property of another, and DUI related offenses.

     The judge refused to lower his bail so Pedroza remains in jail with bail set at $100,000.

     He is due back in court on August 14th.