People v. Espinoza

Opinion by

Judge ROTHENBERG.

Defendant, Joseph Espinoza, appeals the judgment of conviction entered on a jury verdict finding him guilty of conspiracy to commit first degree arson. We affirm.

Defendant purchased a restaurant in 1995, and it soon began losing money. In July 1995, defendant hired a convicted felon, who was then serving time in a community corrections facility, as the restaurant’s head cook and kitchen manager.

On September 20, 1995, this employee waited until all other employees had left the restaurant and then intentionally burned the restaurant down. Thereafter, the employee was…