An Idaho Falls man is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say he deliberately started several fires inside a residence over the course of several weeks, including one in which he allegedly stuffed a rag into a toaster and switched it on.
Robert Anthony Deluna, 37, appeared in Bonneville County court on July 6 and has been charged with one felony count of first-degree arson, one felony count of attempted first-degree arson, and a misdemeanor count of malicious injury to property. A public defender has been appointed to represent him, and a preliminary hearing is set for July 17 at 1 p.m. before Magistrate Judge John Dewey.
A Pattern of Destruction Across Multiple Incidents
According to court documents, the trouble began in April when Deluna allegedly placed a rag inside a toaster and turned the appliance on, resulting in a fire that caused damage to cabinets inside the home. That incident followed a confrontation in which Deluna had been removed from the residence after relapsing on drugs and breaking out a basement window. Authorities estimated the cost of that broken window at approximately $700.
The situation escalated further on June 8, when Deluna allegedly used a stove to ignite random objects inside the home, including setting a tortilla on fire. The following day, June 9, officers were dispatched to the property after Deluna made suicidal threats. According to the charges, he told a neighbor he intended to kill himself after once again being removed from the home.
Investigators tied the separate incidents together in building the case against Deluna, resulting in charges that span from the spring through early summer. The combination of the April toaster fire and the June stove incident forms the basis of the dual arson-related felony counts.
Arson Charges Carry Serious Consequences Under Idaho Law
First-degree arson in Idaho is among the more serious property-related felonies, and a conviction on either count could carry significant prison time. The added misdemeanor charge related to the broken window reflects the full scope of the alleged destruction tied to the incidents at the residence.
Deliberate fires set inside occupied or residential structures present serious dangers not only to the occupants but also to neighboring properties and responding firefighters. Bonneville County has seen multiple fire threats in recent weeks, with brushfires earlier this summer pushing close to residential areas before crews were able to contain them.
Public safety officials in East Idaho have dealt with a range of criminal activity in recent months. Other recent felony cases in Idaho Falls have involved dangerous high-speed pursuits that endangered the public before suspects were apprehended.
What Comes Next
Deluna’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 17 at 1 p.m. before Magistrate Judge John Dewey in Bonneville County. At that hearing, prosecutors will present evidence to establish probable cause for the charges to move forward. If the court finds sufficient grounds, the case will advance toward a formal arraignment and potential trial.
Deluna remains represented by a court-appointed public defender. No plea has been publicly entered as of his initial July 6 court appearance. Bonneville County News will continue to follow developments in this case as they unfold.