Man suspected of arson

By KRIS REILLY, Editor

APPLE VALLEY • A Lucerne Valley man was arrested early last Friday morning on suspicion of setting fire to his ex-girlfriend’s home.

Brian Matthew MacMillan, 28, was picked up by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies in the area of Tao Road and Munsee Road in Apple Valley at 1:46 a.m. on Sept. 30 and was booked on suspicion of arson and a parole violation.

On Sept. 23, deputies received a report that MacMillan had come to the woman’s home in the 8000 area of Buena Vista Road in Lucerne Valley while she wasn’t there. MacMillan allegedly sent the victim a text message threatening to burn the house down if she didn’t come to the location.

The home caught fire shortly thereafter; it was not completely destroyed but was left uninhabitable by the blaze, authorities said.

The victim has four children and has been staying at a motel since the fire, according to her mother Pam Hardwick.

Hardwick said anyone interested in donating household items to the family can drop them off at the Cadillac Ranch or Kristy’s Place, both of which are located on Highway 18 in Apple Valley, or call Hardwick at (760) 684-3382.

“They lost everything,” Hardwick said. “What didn’t burn was smoke damaged.”

Kris Reilly can be reached at editor@lucernevalleyleader.com or at (760) 248-7878