Murrieta Man Who Caused Home Explosion Sentenced to Jail Time

MURRIETA, CA - A man whose illegal drug-making operation triggered an explosion that damaged his Murrieta home was sentenced Wednesday to nine months in jail and three years probation.

Jason Michael Delvecchio, 35, pleaded guilty in February to manufacturing illegal drugs, causing a fire that burned an inhabited structure, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of drugs for sale.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Kelly Hansen imposed the sentence stipulated under the plea agreement.

Delvecchio was arrested after the fire last Aug. 26 at his single-story house in the 39000 block of Banyon Street. Murrieta police said the defendant was making "honey oil," a liquid marijuana derivative also known as "wax," in his house and had stored some of the product in his refrigerator overnight.

Butane gas is used to extract oil from cannabis, and the highly flammable fuel "remains with the honey oil even after the process is completed," said Murrieta police Lt. Ron Driscoll.

"Butane is heavier than air and will settle at the lowest point," Driscoll said. "In this case, the gas emitted from the honey oil and settled at the bottom of the refrigerator, near the compressor. Once the compressor activated, the butane gas reacted to this ignition source, which resulted in a violent explosion."

Several windows in the defendant's kitchen were blown out, and the refrigerator was destroyed.

Fire department personnel arrived just before 7 a.m. and extinguished the blaze, after which a hazardous materials team cleaned up the space.

Investigators then inspected the property, locating 226 grams of wax valued at roughly $9,000, according to police. Another 7,389 grams of raw product were also seized, Driscoll said, estimating the "conservative" street value at $184,725.

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock