California Firefighter Sentenced For Arson Re-Arrested

PLACERVILLE, Calif. --

A volunteer firefighter previously sentenced on arson charges has been re-arrested and charged with four felonies, sheriff's officials said.

Benjamin Cunha's bail was set at $10 million and $15,000 after he was arrested on charges of violating probation, possessing weapons, facilitating the sale of stolen weapons and for a felon in possession of a firearm.

Cunha was allegedly involved with people who stole weapons and helped sell them, Placerville police officials said.

Cunha was sentenced in March to six years in prison for starting three fires.

But the sentence was suspended with several conditions, including registering for the rest of his life as an arsonist and wearing a tracking device during the fire season.

Placerville police were tipped off about the stolen weapons by a person who came into the police station and said they knew that people had broken into a house and stolen guns, jewelry, coins and credit cards, officials said.

When Cunha was sentenced in March, Deputy District Attorney Worth Dikeman said Cunha would go to state prison if he violated any of the rules of his probation.

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