A Redding man has used up all his chances and has been given a life sentence for arson and burglary. 42-year-old Joshua Rocha already had two strikes after starting fires to frighten his cousin and his mother. Last December he introduced himself to some neighbors of his mother as they arrived home, shook hands and apologized for the police being called for a disturbance at his mother’s house. When they went inside, Rocha set fire to their garage and stuffed a rag into the gas tank of their truck and set fire to that as well. The victims were able to stop the fires and they apprehended Rocha as he was running away. Rocha’s sentencing was last Thursday. He’s failed drug treatment at least five times but made an open plea to all charges and asked the court to give him probation so he could seek treatment for drug abuse and mental illness. Instead, he was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison plus another 30 years.
-Steve Gibson