A man convicted of a series of arson attacks targeting two Victorville businesses in 2024 received nearly two decades in prison during a sentencing hearing on Friday.
Shaun Sturgill, 46, was sentenced to 18 years and 8 months in state prison during the Feb. 6 hearing in the Victorville branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court, records show. He received credit for time already served behind bars since his arrest on Oct. 17, 2024.
A jury convicted him in May of 18 felony charges, including five counts of arson, five counts of arson during a state of emergency, six counts of possession of an arson device, one count of making a false bomb threat and one count of making criminal threats.
The fires were set between Oct. 2 and Oct. 17, 2024, and targeted THE GYM, as well as Evoke Offroad Performance Parts & Services, both on Valley Center Drive. The businesses are co-owned by Mark Lyons.
The crimes
The 18 charges Sturgill was convicted of stem from seven separate incidents targeting two businesses:
Another arson fire
But the arrest of Sturgill did not end the arson.
A person was captured on video attempting to set another fire at the rear of THE GYM on the night of Wednesday, Feb. 4. The incident occurred two days prior to Sturgill’s scheduled sentencing.
Surveillance video of the incident shows a person approaching a vent at the rear of the structure and appearing to attempt to light a fire.
The person was chased away by an employee before the fire ignited, Lyons said.
A makeshift paper wick was then found stuck into the vent where the would-be arsonist had been seen.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to investigate the latest arson.
“An unknown adult white male was observed on video attempting to ignite a piece of paper on the northeast side of THE GYM,” agency spokeswoman Socorro Cuevas said.
Deputies also found several airs duster cans, which is often highly flammable, in the area where the suspect had been spotted, she added. It was not clear if the chemical was used as an accelerant in the arson attempt.
Cuevas said investigators did not suspect the recent incident was connected to the 2024 arsons.
“At this time, the incident remains under active investigation, and no suspect identification has been determined,” she said. “They believe this incident is not related to previous incidents at this location or any other business owned by the same proprietor.”
Questions over motive, involvement of others
Lyons, however, said he’s firmly convinced the incidents are linked.
Lyons said didn’t know Sturgill prior this his arrest and had no idea why Sturgill would have any interest in carrying out a fiery vendetta against his business.
But he thinks he might know who does.
The business owner has long contended that he firmly believes others were involved in the October 2024 crimes. Specifically, he said he suspects the series of attacks may have been related to an ongoing multi-million-dollar financial dispute.
The recent fire on Wednesday further convinced Lyons that there were more people involved than just Sturgill, he said.
Lyons hired private investigators to look into the matter and presented sheriff’s investigators with information, which he said included people of interest who have connections to both Sturgill and the ongoing financial dispute. Many had not even been interviewed by investigators, including the person who initially rented the U-Haul truck Sturgill used in some of the crimes, he said.
Statements Sturgill made to law enforcement officials regarding being hired to commit the crimes by another person were also not properly investigated, Lyons contends.
He filed a formal complaint with department on Feb. 3 regarding his allegations.
Anyone with information can reach the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911. Information may also be provided anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man sentenced for 2024 Victorville arson spree
Reporting by Brian Day, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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