Authorities in Florida have arrested an illegal immigrant, Marcelino Gillen-Hernandez, on serious charges including arson and felony criminal mischief. This incident took place in Wahneta, Florida, where police received reports of two fires allegedly started by Hernandez on a local resident’s property.
The property owner acted quickly, extinguishing one fire that had ignited beneath a mobile home with a garden hose. After putting out the flames, the owner reported Hernandez’s confession that he was responsible for both fires—one in January and another that occurred recently. He claimed he was influenced by others from a previous residence—a detail shared with law enforcement during his interview.
Hernandez’s criminal actions did not stop with the fires. After being taken into custody, he acknowledged breaking windows at a local business, Placita Mexico. During questioning, he recounted unsuccessful attempts to break a window using a rock, followed by a successful effort when he managed to shatter a door window using a hammer and rock combination.
The charges against Hernandez are significant. He faces three counts of unoccupied burglary, two counts of criminal mischief with property damage below $1,000, and an additional count with property damage exceeding $1,000—all aggravated by his illegal status in the country. Furthermore, he faces two counts of arson.
In a statement, Sheriff Grady Judd condemned Hernandez’s actions, emphasizing the serious nature of the crimes. “This suspect—who is in the country illegally—committed very serious felonies while taking advantage of someone who allowed him to live in a trailer on her property. He caused over $1,600 worth of damage to a local business as well,” he highlighted. Judd also revealed that Hernandez has a troubling history, having previously threatened a 74-year-old man with a knife in 2024 and been arrested for aggravated assault on an individual over the age of 65. “He should have been deported back then and perhaps he wouldn’t have been here to terrorize and victimize others,” Judd stated, underscoring the consequences of allowing illegal immigrants to remain in the country despite their criminal behavior.
This case adds to ongoing discussions about illegal immigration and public safety, highlighting the risks associated with failing to address the presence of individuals who commit serious crimes while residing unlawfully in the United States.
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