One week after the supervisors spent seven hours debating whether to spend more money on jail cells or diversion programs , District Attorney John Savrnoch issued a press release noting that a serial arsonist had been granted a mental-health diversion over the objections of his department.
Last June, Santa Maria resident Rockie Daren Ginter set a home owned by his parents in Orcutt on fire , pouring gas from a gas can onto their carpet and then lighting it. The house sustained serious damage. In fact, the house exploded as first responders arrived. Ginter shared the home with a roommate. The roommate was not inside at the time.
In 2006, Ginter had been convicted of setting his condo on fire using an accelerant. As a result, he was forced to register as a convicted arsonist. He was placed in mental-health treatment and was closely supervised for five years by the county’s mental health treatment court.