Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 29-year-old Jonathan Jimenez of Buffalo has pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Michael Pietruszka to Attempted Arson in the Second Degree. 

On March 11, 2017 at 1:00 a.m., Jimenez broke into an apartment at 115 Lafayette Avenue in Buffalo, which was part of a large apartment complex with 36 apartments. Jimenez started clothes on fire in two different closets.  The fire quickly grew and Jimenez fled from the building.  The residents of the other apartments were able to escape without being harmed, but the fire caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the apartment building. 

Jimenez could receive a maximum of 15 years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 30, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. by Judge Pietruszka. 

DA Flynn commends the investigative work of Buffalo Fire Marshals James Otwell, Wil Tyler and Edwin Ortiz and ATF Special Agent Gerry O’Sullivan. 

Chief Paul J. Glascott of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau prosecuted the case.