Mission Viejo Arsonist Sentenced In School, Shopping Center Fires

MISSION VIJEO, CA — A Lake Forest resident was sentenced to serving a year in jail for fires set at a Mission Viejo high school and shopping center. Jack Frye, 19, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of arson and attempted arson in July of this year. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted arson and one count of attempted second-degree burglary, all felonies, according to court records.

Frye, a former Mission Viejo High School student, set several fires at the campus and one blaze at the Kaleidoscope shopping center at 27741 Crown Valley Parkway in Mission Viejo between March 28 and April 4.

Frye also attempted to get onto the campus and set a blaze on March 30, but was unsuccessful, and he also tried to ignite a van fire near the high school, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Thanks to the plea deal, Frye, who has been in custody since April, was expected to be released in April of 2019, his attorney Brian Gurwitz said.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.

Photo credit: Renee Schiavone