A Chula Vista man pleaded guilty Tuesday to arson of his girlfriend’s home and domestic violence which could send him to prison for 15 years.
Jose Perez Rodriguez, 35, who is also known as Jose German Rodriguez, also pleaded guilty to residential burglary, and resisting an executive officer.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty before Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Matthew Braner on the day his trial was to start. Deputy District Attorney Ted Fiorito said the maximum sentence is 15 years.
Sentencing was set for Sept. 9. Rodriguez might be ordered to pay for some damages of the Feb. 20 fire at 1003 Monserate Avenue in Chula Vista. Rodriguez spilled gasoline in the master bedroom, living room, kitchen, and garage.
Rodriguez did this after fighting with his girlfriend at a party in San Diego earlier that night. He struck her before party guests separated them, and drove off with her car which his girlfriend later found across the street from the house already engulfed in flames.
A charge of identity theft involving the theft of $400 from his girlfriend’s bank account was dismissed after the guilty pleas to the other charges.
He remains in the South Bay Detention Facility on $500,000 bail. He was convicted of misdemeanor drunk driving in 2014 and sentenced to 100 days in jail.
