A transient has pleaded guilty to seven counts of arson in a series of fires in Ocean Beach that damaged six cars including a classic MGB convertible.
Deputy District Attorney Meghan Buckner said Friday that Michael Barringer will face a stipulated sentence of eight years in prison. A San Diego Superior Court judge set sentencing for Dec. 20. His trial date had been set for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Barringer remains in jail on $700,000 bail.
Five other charges of arson, attempted arson, and recklessly setting a fire were dismissed after he pleaded guilty to seven felony counts.
A police detective testified Oct. 3 that Barringer admitted to all 10 arsons as well as two attempts to commit arson on late July 12 and on July 13 in the early morning hours.
The car most severely damaged was a 1979 MGB classic convertible that was owned by Scott Stavish, who posted on a GoFundMe.com page. The car’s interior was destroyed.
Detective Patrick Shadoan said Barringer placed trash and papers inside the car and set it on fire. Most of the fires were set inside trash or recyclable bins that were placed either on or beside vehicles in Ocean Beach.
After a detective showed Barringer photos of the scene that included melted trash and recyclable bins placed on cars, Barringer admitted he set all the fires.
Barringer said he put a bag of dog feces on someone’s porch and set it aflame because the resident in the house had refused to give him money, said Sadoan.
The first fire was set in an alley near Bacon Street and Cape May Avenue. Other fires were set on Newport Avenue, Voltaire Street, Muir Avenue, Spray Street, Long Branch Avenue, and Niagara Avenue.
He was arrested at 5:30 a.m. on July 13.