Homeless Man Sentenced in Pasadena Auto Body Shop Arson

A homeless man was sentenced Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to eight felony counts and one misdemeanor in connection with the September, 2014 torching of a Pasadena auto body shop.

Jesse Cole Nicolas, 31, was sentenced today to 18 years state prison, given two strikes, and ordered to pay over $550,000 in restitution, according to Pasadena Fire Department spokesperson Lisa Derderian.

Nicholas’s conviction in in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court includes counts of arson of a structure, arson of a vehicle, multiple counts of vandalism and one count grand theft auto.

Nicholas also pleaded guilty to one count of residential and commercial burglary.

The arson fire Nicholas admitted to setting occurred on September 27, 2014 at Alliance Auto Body located at 826 S. Arroyo Parkway. The blaze resulted in $375,000 damage to the building and two vehicles.

Nicholas was arrested and charged with the crime, and has been incarcerated in the men’s central jail since October 22, 2014 .