March 21, 2023 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Teen Pleads Not Guilty to Arson of Santa Monica Sushi Restaurant

Micah Tillmon, 19, of West Hills faces up to 20 years in prison

By Sam Catanzaro

A teenager accused of setting a Santa Monica sushi restaurant on fire has pleaded not guilty to a federal arson charge.

On May 31, amid looters taking advantage of a demonstration protesting the police killing of George Floyd just blocks away, Santa Monica sushi restaurant Sake House by Hikari on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and 4th Street went up in flames.

An investigation–conducted by the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)–revealed Micah Tillmon, 19 of West Hills as a suspect in the arson case.

ATF agents arrested Tilmon earlier this month on federal arson charges. Tilmon, along with Gisselle Alexis Pinto, 19, and Mynor Pinto, 18, also faces looting charges filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The federal case, however, will be tried first. Alexis and Mynor Pinto were arrested on suspicion of looting by Santa Monica police.

“These subjects were seen setting fire to the Sake House and looting at REI, Brandy Melville, Vons, Magicopolis, Salon Viva, Wasteland and the Shoe Palace, all located in Santa Monica,” Santa Monica police said.

Gisselle Alexis Pinto, Mynor Pinto and Micah Tilmon. Photo: SMPD.

According to a federal affidavit, security video from the restaurant shows Tillmon removing “a red tube-shaped object from his jacket, which he placed behind the reception desk area of the restaurant before walking away. Within seconds of that action, smoke and fire appeared from the area….”

SMFD investigators determined that the fire was caused by a red object that Tillmon allegedly placed in the restaurant.

Tillmon was identified by detectives with the SMPD, who reviewed numerous security videos and social media posts.

Tillmon was also linked to the fire when investigators uncovered a video showing his white Ford Explorer parking next to the Sake House four minutes before the fire started and then reversing across the street soon after the fire started, according to the affidavit. That same video allegedly shows the Explorer parking about 500 feet away from the Sake House, and Tillmon exiting the vehicle and looting a nearby business.

After receiving Tillmon’s not guilty plea, U.S. Magistrate Judge Pedro V. Castillo set a status conference for August 3 and a tentative jury trial date of September 15.

If convicted as charged, Tillmon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

in Crime, News
Related Posts

Should Santa Monica Close the Airport?

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Santa Monica City Council recently voted to begin the process of closing Santa Monica Municipal Airport. The decision was kick-started...

City Council Puts Plan for Use of Parking Lots for Affordable Housing in Motion

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

Sites are located at 1217 Euclid Street, 1211-1217 14th Street and 1146 16th Street By Dolores Quintana ​​During the Santa...

Santa Monica Warns Residents of Crypto Ponzi Scheme

March 21, 2023

March 21, 2023

City says 30 + households in Santa Monica have reported being victimized by CryptoFX, LLC Over 30 households in Santa...

Man Arrested for Sexual Assaults Targeting Homeless Victims

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

Anthony Pittman faces rape charges in connection to series of sexual assaults A West Hollywood man has been arrested in...

SMa.r.t. Column: Going Bare

March 20, 2023

March 20, 2023

(part 3 of 3 articles) Every City faces periodic interruptions to its normal life. Some interruptions in our City are...

Santa Monica Mall Owner, Macerich, Finds Way Out of Retail Property Crisis

March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023

Move comes amidst a crisis for retail property owners, with loans coming due for refinancing with much higher interest rates...

Historic Santa Monica Property “The Witbeck House” Listed for Sale at $22.5M

March 19, 2023

March 19, 2023

Greene & Greene-designed home features 26,000+ square foot lot with five bedroom home A historic property known as The Witbeck...

New Affordable Housing Complex Completed in Santa Monica’s Pico Neighborhood

March 18, 2023

March 18, 2023

Las Flores offers 73 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at 1834-1848 14th Street By Sam Catanzaro Community Corp. of Santa...

Are You Staying in Santa Monica Over the Summer?

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

Spring is officially here, which means summer is just around the corner. Santa Monica residents, what are your travel plans...

Suspect Arrested in Palisades Park Stabbing of City of Santa Monica Employee

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

Barna Allen Cranford arrested in connection to March 15 stabbing By Sam Catanzaro Santa Monica police have identified and arrested...

Negotiations for Independent Malibu School District Progressing

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

City of Malibu  and Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Complete draft of key deliverables By Sam Catanzaro Negotiations between Santa...

Santa Monica Residents to Pay More for Concealed Carry License After Supreme Court Ruling and Council Vote

March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023

Santa Monica City Council sets fee for conceal carry permits at $150 By Sam Catanzaro Santa Monica residents will have...

Famed NYC Pizzeria Now Open Just South of Santa Monica Border

March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

Famed NYC pizzeria Prince Street Pizza now open on Lincoln Boulevard just south Rose Avenue By Dolores Quintana The newest...

Michelin-Starred Santa Monica Restaurant Among Coachella Food Vendors

March 16, 2023

March 16, 2023

Rustic Canyon to be among dining options at upcoming music festival By Dolores Quintana Rustic Canyon Restaurant’s chef Zarah Khan...

World-Renowned Dumpling Restaurant Din Tai Fung to Open New Location at Santa Monica Place

March 15, 2023

March 15, 2023

Din Tai Fung will take a prime, 10,615-square-foot space on third story of mall ​​Din Tai Fung is coming to...