Man Accused Of Torching Desert Hot Springs Mobile Homes Pleads Not Guilty

INDIO, CA --- A man accused of setting fire to three homes at a Desert Hot Springs mobile home park and threatening two people pleaded not guilty Wednesday to attempted murder, criminal threats and arson charges.

Michael Eric McPeters, 42, is charged with two counts each of attempted murder and making criminal threats, three counts of arson of an inhabited property, and one count each of arson of an uninhabited property and arson of a structure or forest land.

He also faces sentence-enhancing allegations of causing multiple structures to burn and committing arson while the state's emergency drought regulations were in effect.

He is due back in court on June 17 for a felony settlement conference.

The criminal complaint accuses McPeters of targeting and threatening the lives of a man and a woman, as well as setting fire to numerous structures last Friday at Palm Drive Mobile Estates, 15687 Palm Drive.

The fire, which was reported at 4:52 p.m., caused an estimated $40,000 in damage. Flames spread by strong winds prompted residents living downwind of the fire to evacuate.

More than 30 firefighters were dispatched to the scene, one of whom was evaluated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County Fire Department.

Crews contained the fire at 5:48 p.m., but remained on scene for several hours, she said.

McPeters was arrested late Friday night by Cal Fire investigators and was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he was being held in lieu of $1 million bail, according to jail records.

• Also see: 7 To Be Arraigned In Riverside County For Alleged $98 Million Fraud

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