A mental health placement review has been rescheduled to early October for a 32-year-old Vallejo man arrested in mid-May on felony warrants and suspicion of arson in connection to an early morning blaze that damaged two Vallejo businesses, The Reporter has learned.
Criminal proceedings have been suspended for Xavier H. Williams, who appeared Sept. 1 in Department 23 for the placement report in the Justice Center in Fairfield. He was represented by Deputy Public Defender Kirby Madden. Deputy District Attorney Eric Charm represented the people.
Judge John B. Ellis continued the matter to Oct. 6 in the Justice Center in Fairfield.
During an earlier proceeding in the case, on Aug. 5, the judge ordered Williams committed to the Department of State Hospitals’ trial competency program for a maximum of two years or until he is restored to competency, official court records indicate.
Later that month, on Aug. 23, a court report showed that the defendant would be administered anti-psychotic drugs voluntarily; and, within 90 days, the medical director at the state hospital would submit a progress report to the court.
Under state law, specifically Penal Code section 1368, a defendant who is considered unable to help in his or her defense or understand court proceedings cannot be tried. However, once they are deemed competent, criminal charges can be reinstated and the defendant can be scheduled to face more court proceedings, including a jury trial.
Williams is charged with the May 17 fire that damaged the Anchor Pantry and also damaged the Joint, a neighboring retail store.
Pleading not guilty at jail arraignment, Williams was in custody in the Stanton Correctional Facility at the time, with bail set at $75,000 on the arson charge.
Besides the felony arson charge, Williams faced several other felony charges based on warrants, among them, carrying a loaded firearm; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and vandalism. His total bail on all the charges was $115,000, according to jail records.
As previously reported in the Vallejo Times-Herald, Vallejo public safety officials reported a 3:26 a.m. dispatch call indicating the Anchor Pantry, a gourmet grocery store at 617 Marin St., was on fire.
Investigators allege that Williams lit the fire there. A short time later, he was found nearby, in the 400 block of Santa Clara Street, where he was arrested on the warrants and the arson charge.
Vallejo Fire Department spokesperson and firefighter Aaron Klauber said at the time that the owners of Anchor Pantry noticed that they had a Ring alarm and video of a man at the front of the storefront trying to light a fire. Firefighters were first on the scene and tried to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher to keep the flames in check but without success, according to Klauber.
The fire went to a second alarm, more firefighters arrived, and the flames were doused in 14 minutes. The second alarm was called due to neighboring buildings with multiple floors, according to Klauber.
No injuries were reported, but Anchor Pantry’s first floor was damaged. The Joint, a retail shop offering handmade vintage and modern goods, was “red-tagged,” meaning it was considered unsafe to occupy.
Placement review still pending for defendant in May 17 Vallejo arson - Vallejo Times-Herald
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