A man who took part in burning down a historic commercial structure in downtown La Mesa following a police brutality protest that devolved into rioting was sentenced Thursday to credit for time served and two years of probation.
Daniel Louis Sandoval, 44, was arrested about six months after prosecutors say he and others set fire to the Randall Lamb and Associates Building on Palm Avenue on May 31, 2020. The structure, which had been designated as historically significant by the La Mesa Historical Society, was one of several buildings, including two banks, that burned to the ground during the unrest.
Sandoval, who has already served about a year in jail, pleaded guilty to an arson count last year for the fire, as well as a vandalism charge in connection with Spa Piel, a nearby business.