Transient convicted of setting two fires in Riverside – Daily Bulletin

A 39-year-old transient who authorities say started two fires in Riverside that together caused $2 million in damage was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison on Tuesday, April 23, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

George Alexander Hill was immediately released, jail records show. He had already been in pre-trial detention for a year and four months. Defendants are typically given credit at sentencing for time served, which by law is double the time they had served in custody.

Hill had pleaded guilty to one charge of arson of property. In return, the count of arson of a structure was dropped.

The property that was lost consisted of stuffed animals and other toys that Big T Toys and Sports on Park View Court sells to carnivals and theme parks to give out as prizes. The loss there in the fire on December 18, 2022 was estimated at $1.5 million. The building that was damaged was a Walmart on Van Buren Boulevard on October 23, 2022.

Capt. Ray Mendoza, an arson investigator with the Riverside Fire Department, said the department believes Hill started both fires.

Jeff Taggart, co-owner of Big T Toys and Sports, said shortly after the fire that he believes homeless people living near the Santa Ana River were responsible for previous thefts and damage at the business.