September 2, 2024 – Stanislaus County District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced that Santiago Ojeda Astorga, age 33 of Turlock, was sentenced to 13 years in state prison after being convicted of arson and domestic violence.

This conviction relates to crimes Astorga committed on 9/4/2023.  On that date, neighbors at an apartment complex contacted police stating they heard a man assaulting a woman in one of the units. Officers conducted a security check at the unit identified by neighbors and located the victim. She had sustained injuries resulting from the assault by Astorga. Astorga, who was the father of the victim’s 2 children, fled the area after the assault. The children were present during the domestic violence but were physically unharmed.

Later that day, Astorga went looking for the victim at her relative’s home in a nearby apartment complex. When Astorga could not locate the victim, he threatened to burn down the relative’s apartment. Astorga then used an accelerant and started a vehicle fire in the carport area of the complex. The fire quickly spread to multiple cars and damaged two apartment units before being extinguished by the Turlock Fire.

The Stanislaus County Fire Investigative Unit investigated the arson. The Turlock Police investigated the domestic violence incident and apprehended Astorga within a few hours of starting the fire.  Deputy District Attorney Vita Palazuelos prosecuted this case on behalf of the People.

Source: Stanislaus County District Attorney