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Arson charges filed in S. Austin business fires
Austin police on Monday charged Martin Gutierrez, 43, with several counts of arson, after officials said they linked him to nine fires, including at two businesses in South Austin.
Austin Fire Department Capt. Andy Reardon said Gutierrez, at right, was linked to nine fires between Dec. 2 and Jan. 26, and that he caused more than $187,000 in damage to local businesses. Among his targets were the Green Muse Cafe, a coffee shop on Oltorf Street, and Habana, a South Congress Avenue restaurant, officials said.
Gutierrez, who officials said is homeless, was arrested Jan. 31 on a vandalism charge. According to an arrest affidavit, he caused more than $4,000 in damage to an AT&T-owned telephone pole when he was found cutting the pole’s cables.
Gutierrez admitted causing one of the fires, but gave information to police that lead them to believe he was guilty of other counts of arson, Reardon said.
If found guilty, Gutierrez could face 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
