LOS ANGELES — A German man was charged Wednesday with 37 counts of arson in connection with a rash of fires that terrorized Los Angeles over the New Year’s weekend.
Harry Burkhart, 24, was charged with 28 counts of arson of property and nine counts of arson of an inhabited structure, District Attorney Steve Cooley said.
Burkhart’s arraignment late Wednesday was postponed until Jan. 24. He was ordered held on $2.85 million bail.
Authorities said they believe he was angry over his mother’s legal troubles and went on a nighttime rampage of burning parked cars a day after she appeared in court last week. Burkhart’s mother, Dorothee Burkhart, said in court Tuesday that her son is mentally ill.
Harry Burkhart is also under investigation in his home country of Germany for a house fire north of Frankfurt days before he traveled to the U.S. in October.
The Associated Press
