Turlock man jailed for assault and arson

A Turlock man was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of arson and domestic violence, prosecutors announced.

Santiago Ojeda Astorga, 33, of Turlock, was sentenced Friday for the crimes that occurred on September 4, 2023.

That day, neighbors of an apartment complex contacted police saying they heard a man attacking a woman in one of the apartments. Turlock Police officers conducted a security check at the apartment identified by the neighbors and found the victim. According to prosecutors, she had sustained injuries from Astorga's attack. The children were present during the domestic violence, but were physically unharmed.

Astorga, the father of the victim's two children, fled the area after the attack.

Later that same day, Astorga searched for the victim at her relative's home in a nearby apartment complex in the 1100 block of Colorado Avenue. When Astorga could not find the victim, he threatened to burn down the relative's apartment.

At around 10 p.m., Astorga deployed an accelerant and started a vehicle fire in the carport area of ​​the complex. The initial call reported a burning vehicle under a carport and was upgraded to a possible structure fire when the first Turlock Fire Department fire engine was dispatched to the scene.

Very quickly, the operation was upgraded to a building fire, as the flames spread from one vehicle to the next and penetrated over the carport onto the edge of the roof of the one-story semi-detached house and into the attic.

The Turlock Fire Department was on scene with all fire engines, Squad 32 and a battalion chief, and had also requested four fire engines, a truck, a quint and additional battalion chiefs from other agencies.

The flames and smoke could be seen from a distance and several explosions shocked neighbors, some of whom decided to leave the immediate area. The explosions were caused by exploding tires, said Turlock Fire Chief Jason Bernard.

No injuries were reported from the fire. The fire forced six people from their homes and burned eight cars, a carport and a duplex.

Turlock police closed Colorado Avenue between Hawkeye Avenue and Main Street and Escondido Avenue during the incident. Officers setting up the traffic stop were approached by some residents of the duplex who said they believed the fire started under their vehicle and was an intentional act.

Residents told officers that Astruga was the ex-boyfriend of a relative and had come to the duplex looking for his ex-girlfriend. When he didn't find her, he said he was leaving and immediately afterward the fire broke out, the police report said.

Officers went to Astruga's last known residence and found him there. He attempted to flee but was quickly arrested. He was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on suspicion of domestic violence and eleven counts of arson.

With the help of doorbell cameras, investigators were able to determine that the fire was arson.

The Stanislaus County Arson Investigation Unit investigated the arson. Assistant District Attorney Vita Palazuelos prosecuted this case on behalf of the public.