Arsonist Pleads Guilty to Starting Hollister Fire

By the edhat staff

A Grover Beach man has pleaded guilty to one felony count of arson for starting the Hollister Fire in March of this year.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced Monday that 30-year-old Edward Junior Macklin pleaded guilty to one felony counts of Arson of a Structure or Forest, in violation of Penal Code Section 451(c), for an incident in and around the Hollister Ranch Area, between Cuarta Canyon and Alegria Canyon, on March 12, 2022.

The Hollister fire burned over 120 acres of forest land across five properties within Hollister Ranch. It took several days to contain the blaze as well as numerous resources including dozers, aircraft, and hand crews.

There were no reported injuries and damaged structures.

Macklin will be receiving a jail sentence and felony probation. He will be required to register as an arsonist pursuant to Penal Code section 457.1. His conviction is a serious felony pursuant to Penal Code Section 1192.7(c)(14) and is a strike offense in California.

Edward Macklin’s sentencing date is set for October 26, 2022, in Lompoc Superior Court at 8:30 a.m.

March 12, 2022: Hollister Fire Breaks Out in Goleta