Suspected serial arsonist charged in Santa Rosa, Graton trail fires

The 51-year-old homeless man is accused of lighting at total of 17 fires along the Joe Rodota Trail in Santa Rosa and Graton.|
NASHELLY CHAVEZ
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The man suspected of starting a string of small fires in Santa Rosa and Graton last month was formally charged with felony arson and possession of a controlled substance on Thursday.

Domingo Bautista-Bautista, 51, was arrested on Monday, with the Santa Rosa investigators saying he used a lighter to start four fires on June 14 in Graton along the Joe Rodota Trail.

The police department alleged Bautista lit an additional 13 fires along the trail in Santa Rosa two days later.

A witness from the Graton fires who reported seeing a suspicious person nearby later identified Bautista in a photo lineup, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Bautista, also known as Juan Hernandez-Bautista, has several known aliases listed in a 2016 criminal case made available though the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office website.

He was previously convicted for animal abuse and possessing a controlled substance in November 2016.

He’s scheduled to return to court on Monday at 8:30 a.m. for the arson case.

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