Prosecuting Old Fire arsonist 'a very challenging case'

Source: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Calif.迷你倉Oct. 25--Justice didn't come quickly for victims of the 2003 Old Fire. But it did eventually come -- 10 years later.Rickie Lee Fowler, who was serving time at Salinas Valley State Prison for burglary, was charged in 2009 with five counts of murder and two counts of arson related to San Bernardino County's most devastating wildfire.The case was finally one step closer to being solved."The victim in this case was an entire community," said Supervising Deputy District Attorney Robert Bulloch, who prosecuted the case. "There were so many components in the case. I had never experienced that before."In December 2003, Fowler's great-great aunt, Elizabeth Rehkop, tipped off sheriff's investigators about Fowler's possible involvement in the fire.She reported that information to authorities and sheriff's deputies looked into it.The Old Fire investigation -- deemed the largest criminal investigation in San Bernardino County history -- went on for years.Bulloch, who inherited the case in 2011, said that was partially because there was so much to look into and partially because Fowler withheld information and waffled about his involvement.First he took credit for starting the fire, then he denied it, saying he was present at the time and had intentions of lighting the fire but a friend grabbed a road flare from his hand, lit it and threw it into the mountainside brush before he could.Investigators had to look into the overwhelming number of tips as well as Fowler's ever changing story."We had to follow up on everything he told us," Bulloch said.In June 2009, authorities officially identified two suspects in the fire. Fowler, who was convicted in San Bernself storagerdino County Superior Court in November 2003 of burglary and sentenced to nine years in prison, and Martin Valdez Jr., who died in 2006.Authorities believed Fowler started the fire by throwing a flare into the brush near Old Waterman Canyon while Valdez Jr. was believed to be the driver of the white Chevrolet Astro Van seen speeding away from the scene. A composite sketch of Valdez Jr. circulated by the Sheriff's Department bears his likeness.On Oct. 20, 2009, Fowler was indicted by a grand jury. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his Nov. 12 arraignment. But it would take three years for a trial to start."That amount of evidence took a long time to go through," said Donald Jordan, Fowler's attorney, about reading and organizing all of the documents.Jury selection for the Old Fire trial began in June 2012. On July 9, 2012, lawyers presented their opening statements in the guilt phase of the trial.After a month of evidence and testimony, jurors started deliberating.On Aug. 15, 2012, Fowler was convicted of all charges.Jurors then heard evidence about Fowler's troubled upbringing. Family members of the victims testified. Fowler's family rallied for his life.On Sept. 28, 2012, the jury panel recommended the death penalty. Fowler was sentenced to death on Jan. 28, 2013. He is now housed at San Quentin.Jordan, now retired, still believes Fowler is innocent of starting the fire."That was a very challenging case," he said. "People that think they got the right man are kidding themselves."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Calif.) Visit the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (Ontario, Calif.) at .dailybulletin.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷利倉