German man charged with 37 counts of arson in Los Angeles

Harry Burkhart, 24, was charged with 28 counts of arson of property and nine counts of arson of an inhabited structure, District Attorney Steve Cooley said.

The complaint alleged the arson was caused by the use of a device designed to accelerate the fire. Court documents revealed an incendiary device was placed under the engine area of cars.

More charges could be filed when Burkhart returns to court for arraignment on Jan. 24. He was ordered held on US$2.85 million bail and could face several dozen years in prison if convicted.

“The amount of harm he did to the psyche of the citizens of these particular communities and all of Los Angeles County, I think it merits a life term,” Cooley said.

The charges are based on a dozen fires in the Hollywood and Sherman Oaks sections of Los Angeles and the city of West Hollywood. Authorities said they believe he was angry over his mother's legal troubles and went on a nighttime rampage of burning parked cars a day after she appeared in court last week, when he went on a profanity-laced tirade denouncing the United States.

Burkhart had an unusual court appearance, where he alternated between sitting and standing and appeared to be in a dazed state, although he spoke occasionally with a German translator. He wore green sleeveless shirt, his long hair matted on the front of his face as he craned his head and body backward when he stood.

He has been put on suicide watch, a law enforcement official said Wednesday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of privacy issues.

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