Pier Fire Defendants Sentenced
Today in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced four defendants for their involvement in the 2017 Pier Fire near Springville.
On August 19, 2021, the defendants pleaded to the following felonies:
Isiac Renteria, 23 – arson of a structure or forest, 4 counts of taking a vehicle without consent.
Richard Renteria, 25 – arson of a structure or forest, 4 counts of taking a vehicle without consent.
Osvaldo Esparza-Guerrero, 24 – arson of a structure or forest, 3 counts of taking a vehicle without consent.
Breane Ojeda, 25 – arson, 2 counts of taking a vehicle without consent.
Isiac Renteria, Richard Renteria, and Osvaldo Esparza-Guerrero were each sentenced to 8 years suspended prison with credit for 3 years actually served in custody. Ojeda was sentenced to 3 years, 4 months of suspended prison. The defendants are also ordered to pay over $40 million in restitution. A restitution hearing is scheduled for October 6.
According to state law (PC451.5), beginning in January 2024, the sentence of life in prison can no longer be imposed for aggravated arson with a loss over $8.3 million. The statute would be retroactively applied in this case.
In the early morning hours of August 29, 2017, the defendants deliberately set fire to a stolen car to destroy it, which in turn ignited the blaze that incurred $40 million in damages and costs. The Pier Fire was declared contained on September 24, 2017.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare
Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494