| For Immediate Release January 9, 2006 |
Contact: | Susan Kang Schroeder Deputy District Attorney (714) 347-8408 Office (714) 292-2718 Cell |
ORANGE COUNTY PROMOTER CHARGED FOR STALKING EX-GIRLFRIEND AND SETTING A FIRE IN FRONT OF HER DOORSTEP
LAGUNA NIGUEL – An Orange County promoter has been charged with two counts of felony arson, felony stalking and making annoying phone calls involving his ex-girlfriend. Richard Eugene Goodwin, 36, of Laguna Beach, could face probation to 13 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted of all charges.
Beginning in about August of 2005, Goodwin is accused of repeatedly contacting and harassing Jane Doe, 21, whom he had been dating for a few months. Doe repeatedly rejected Goodwin’s attempt to reconcile the failed relationship.
In December 2005, Doe moved to a new home and was hiding from Goodwin. Goodwin is accused of finding out her new residence and going to her house. At her residence, Goodwin is accused of rolling up a cloth towel, dousing it with an ignitable liquid, placing it at the base of Doe’s front door on a door mat, and setting it on fire. Luckily, several neighbors heard a crackling noise, saw the fire, and extinguished it with a pillow and a bucket of water with minimal property damage.
Goodwin recently received local publicity for arranging a “New York City” style celebration with a ball drop and musical performances at the Orange County Fair Grounds.
Deputy District Attorney Steve Mitchell of the Felony Projects Unit is prosecuting this case. Mr. Goodwin is currently out of custody on $1 million bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 3, 2006 in Dept. S-2 at South Justice Center in Laguna Niguel.
###