Union City Man Gets Year In Jail For Torching Girlfriend's Car

SAN MATEO, CA – A Union City man was sentenced to a year in jail and three years of probation for vandalizing his girlfriend's car and setting it on fire in July 2017, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.

Vinay Patel, 53, allegedly went to his girlfriend's house after she didn't answer his calls on July 12, 2017. He shot the car with a BB gun, poured some kind of fuel in the car and on a carport then lit the carport on
fire.

The fire was extinguished before it could spread to other properties and Patel denied any involvement, but prosecutors say his girlfriend identified him using grainy security video.

Investigators found a BB gun in the trunk of Patel's car, and his fingerprints were found on a sign that had been taped to the victim's car, presumably by the arsonist.

Patel was found guilty of felony arson and felony vandalism after a six-day jury trial in May, and has been out of custody on $250,000 bail. He has to turn himself in by Sept. 22.

In addition to one year in county jail, Patel was sentenced to three years of probation and must attend 104 hours of domestic violence counseling. He's also been ordered to pay $211,200 in restitution.

Defense attorney Charles J. Smith III did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his client's behalf.

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