Man Pleads Not Guilty To Arson Charges Related To San Gabriel Mission Fire Last Summer

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) - John David Corey, accused of allegedly setting fire to the historic San Gabriel Mission last summer, pleaded not guilty Thursday.

The four-alarm fire caused extensive damage to the mission. Prosecutors allege the 57-year-old Corey, also known as "Joker," broke into the mission in the early morning hours on July 11, 2020, and started the blaze. The fire spread to the roof and along the length of the church. Portions of the roof fell on firefighters who had to then evacuate, according to San Gabriel Fire Capt. Antonio Negrete, and one firefighter sustained non-life threatening injuries.

It took firefighters more than four hours to get the fire out, but they were able to stop the flames before they reached the altar, museum and and the adjacent rectory.

Corey was charged May 4 with two felony counts of arson, among other charges. According to officials at the San Gabriel Fire Department, Corey had been arrested and sentenced to three years in another arson case that happened after the mission fire.

"It was during this separate incident that investigators deemed Mr. Corey a person of interest. After a thorough investigation, investigators determined that Corey was responsible for the fire at the Mission San Gabriel," read a statement issued by the department after the case was filed.

A fundraising campaign was launched to help repair the church, which is targeted for completion in spring 2022, according to the missions website.

"The loss to the mission was in the millions of dollars, but the loss to the community is immeasurable," District Attorney George Gascon said in a written statement announcing the charges.

Corey faces up to 14 years in prison and remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail.

(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)