A Los Osos man faces state prison after being convicted of setting his own home afire and resisting arrest.
Mark Warren Hannah, 48, was convicted of three felonies in Judge John Trice’s court. Hannah was convicted of arson and two counts of resisting officers by threat or violence, said Assistant District Attorney, Lee
Cunningham.
Hannah faces 8 years and 8 months in state prison for the convictions. The case was prosecuted by Dep. D.A. Mike Frye.
The case started last Feb. 8, when Sheriff’s deputies were asked by family members to check the welfare of Mark Hannah, as they were concerned about his mental state, according to news reports at the time.
Sheriff’s deputies stopped his vehicle in Cayucos, spoke to him and then released him. At about 3:45 p.m. that same day, a neighbor reported that Hannah’s house, located at the corner of Woodland Drive and Broderson Avenue in Los Osos was on fire.
When Sheriff’s deputies and firefighters from the South Bay Station arrived, the flames had burst through the roof and were starting to catch trees on fire. A power line reportedly came down and was sparking along the ground, too.
The reporting party said she had spoken with Hannah a half hour before smelling smoke and running outside, where she saw the fire and called for help.
Hannah was reportedly inside when the blaze started and was found in the backyard during the firefight suffering from third degree burns on 30% of his body.
Hannah was rushed to a burn unit in Fresno, where he was reportedly placed under arrest. The home was a total loss.
– Photos courtesy Hunter Kilpatrick
