A Chula Vista man has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in a bizarre plot to torch several occupied rooms of a Chula Vista motel with beer bottles filled with gasoline in 2013.
Psychologists have been appointed to evaluate Jon Ralph Dibble, 26, by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Ana Espana, who set a trial date for April 29. Dibble has also pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He is charged with two counts of attempted murder, four counts of possession of incendiary devices, burglary, and attempted arson. The incident took place Sept. 30, 2013 at the Riviera Motel, at 372 Broadway.
A jury will first deliberate as to whether he is guilty or not guilty. In the trial’s sanity phase, jurors would determine if he was insane at the time. If he’s found to be insane at the time of the crime, Dibble could be committed to a state mental hospital, possibly for life.
Dibble was arrested Sept. 30 by Chula Vista Police following a 1:55 a.m. 911 call by a resident who said he was trying to break into her room. Police discovered wire and cable that were attached to several motel room doors that might have locked occupants inside.
Police found that Dibble was carrying four beer bottles that contained gasoline and he had torn parts of his shirt to make a wick, according to previous testimony. He had been living temporarily at the Riviera Motel at the time.
Motel guests and a detective previously testified Dibble made strange comments, saying he thought his ex-girlfriend was being held against her will in one room with tape across her face. Dibble admitted to putting cable around three door knobs.
The gasoline filled bottles could have acted like Molotov cocktails if a wick was lit and thrown. Dibble remains in the South Bay Detention Facility on $3 million bail.
