A California couple – Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. and Angela Renee Jimenez – agreed to a plea deal where they will have to pay $1,789,972 in restitution after their 2020 gender reveal party resulted in a wildfire that destroyed 23,000 acres of land and 20 buildings and also killed one person. Jail time and community service were also a part of the plea deal.
In September 2020, the El Dorado Fire ravaged San Bernadino County and lasted several months. Over 1,200 people, eight helicopters, and 120 fire engines were required to contain the fire. One firefighter – Charles Morton, 39, an 18-year veteran firefighter – lost his life.
She wants to normalize discussions of “gender disappointment.”
“It really is a tragedy, it’s sad. They were hoping to remember the day in a different way,” fire investigator Capt. Bennet Milloy said of the family that started the fire.
Authorities believe that the Jimenezes set off “a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device” on September 5 to release dyed smoke to signal whether the baby they were expecting would be assigned male or female at birth.
They set off the device at 10:23 a.m. at El Dorado Ranch Park in “dry conditions and critical fire weather”, and it ignited dry grass. Strong winds stoked and spread the fire.
On September 17, the fire spread to a remote area where firefighters were working, killing Morton. The fire ended up injuring 13 other people and caused hundreds to evacuate their homes. destroying five houses and 15 other buildings.
The Jimenezes were charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter in 2021, as well as over 30 other felony counts involving 22 victims who were injured or lost property. Last Friday, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office announced the plea deal where they agreed to pay $1.8 million in restitution.
Refugio Manuel Jimenez Jr. pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly causing a fire to an inhabited structure. He will also get one year in jail, two years of felony probation, and 200 hours of community service.
Angela Renee Jimenez pled guilty to three misdemeanor counts of recklessly causing a fire to the property of another. She will have to serve one year of summary probation and complete 400 hours of community service.
