Yucaipa teen to face arraignment on arson charges
A 16-year-old Yucaipa teenager is scheduled to appear for arraignment Thursday in Superior Court on arson charges in connection with wildfires in Yucaipa and Oak Glen in August.
Ricky Sean Lukacs appeared in court last month for arraignment in San Bernardino Superior Court, but it was delayed when his lawyer argued that prosecutors charged Lukacs with the same charges in juvenile and adult courts.
Deputy Public Defender Stephan Willms filed a motion to challenge the charges, and a decision could be made Thursday. Lukacs faces two felony counts of arson in adult court, according to prosecutors.
The pair of blazes burned more than 1,000 acres in late August. A sheriff's deputy saw Lukacs the following month near the Sept. 23 Crafton Fire, and he was taken into custody.
Prosecutors also charged Lukacs with 12 to 14 wildfires, dating back to 2006, in juvenile court.
Lukacs faces up to nine years in state prison, if he is convicted in adult court, say prosecutors.
Staff Writers Stacia Glenn and Jesse B. Gill contributed to this report.
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