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Wednesday, January 26, 1994Man to get 8 years in KUZZ arson fireBy ROB WALTERSCalifornian staff writerA convicted felon who authorities believe was hired to bum the transmitter of KUZZ-TV, Channel 45, pleaded no contest Tuesday to arson charges.David Preston Moler, 30, entered a plea to arson that caused more than $100,000 and will receive an eight-year prison term when he is sentenced Feb. 1 in Kern County Superior Court.The sentencing coincides with sentences Moler is to receive on three other felony cases — two for auto theft and one for escape and assault. Moler’s prior convictions include one for attempted murder in 1987, according to court records.Moler entered the plea just as his preliminary hearing was set to begin in Bakersfield Municipal Court.The plea bargain — arranged by Deputy District Attorney Michael J. Vendrasco and Deputy Public Defender John Hamilton — does not end the investigation into the fire, according to Capt. William Alexander, an arson investigator for the Kern County Fire Department.Outside of pleading no contest — which has the same effect as a guilty plea — Moler has refused todiscuss a motive for the fire. Moler has no apparent ties to the TV station, which leads authorities to believe he was hired to commit the crime.“The investigation is still in progress, Alexander said. “We are sure Mr. Moler is responsible, and that he was paid money and or narcotics.Court papers indicate one of the focuses of the investigation involves fired or disgruntled workers of Buck Owens Productions, which operates KUZZ-TV.Witnesses placed Moler at the Mount Adelaide transmitter site on Sept. 30 in the hours before the fire, which was started with an accelerant such as gasoline.Court papers say Moler was seen climbing a fence and walking toward the transmitter a short time before the fire started. A pickup Moler drove to the site contained a red gas can. A pair of tennis shoes found outside the fence were stolen during a residential burglary — and Moler was seen tossing the shoes from the pickup.The million-dollar blaze destroyed the local independent’s transmitters and backup power generator.
Newspaper Details
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield, California, US
Wed, Jan 26, 1994
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Sammi B.
NA 15 Apr 2024
Other Publications Near Bakersfield, California
The Berkshire County Eagle
Southern Californian and Kern Weekly Courier
The Weekly Californian
Kern County Californian
Daily Californian
