Teen To Be Charged with Attempted Murder, Arson at Ex-Girlfriend's Home

A Sonoma Valley man suspected of setting fire to his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend's home over the weekend will be arraigned Tuesday afternoon on charges of attempted murder, arson of an inhabited dwelling and child endangerment, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Adalberto Jimenez-Barajas, 19, is suspected of lighting the one-story wooden house in the 800 block of Boyes Boulevard in Sonoma on fire around 4:50 a.m. Sunday, April 22. Barajas and his ex-girlfriend were together about three years before they broke up several weeks ago, said sheriff's Sgt. Carlos Basurto.

Barajas was arrested at the scene after having been detained by members of the ex-girlfriend's family, said Basurto. He was taken to for treatment of a burn to his leg before he was booked into county jail, where he is currently being held on $1.1 million bail.

Barajas' ex-girlfriend and her father were not home when the fire started, but relatives including two young children were asleep in the house at the time, Basurto said. They were able to flee the burning house and were not hurt.

Division Chief Spencer Andreis said an accelerant was used to start the fire on an outside corner of the house. The blaze spread rapidly, and destroyed the roof and attic, Andreis said. The interior of the house sustained smoke damage, and firefighters pulled down ceilings to access the attic, he said.

Firefighters arrived at 4:52 a.m. and controlled the fire at 5:30 a.m. Damage is estimated at $100,000, Andreis said. He estimated the size of the home as 1,200 to 1,400 square feet. Firefighters from the Glen Ellen Fire Department and the Kenwood and Schell-Vista fire protection districts also responded to the blaze.

Bay City News contributed to this report