Cypress Man Pleads Not Guilty to Canyon Fire Charges

A 19-year-old Cypress man, accused of igniting a major fire in Cleveland National Forest last month, pleaded not guilty to federal arson charges Monday.

Robert E. Lowenberg previously told U.S. Forest Service investigators that he started the Sept. 9 Silverado fire, which blackened 5,000 acres of rugged national forest lands in Orange and Riverside counties and took 1,100 firefighters about two weeks to contain.

Lowenberg and a friend, who was not charged, were the first to report the fire in the Silverado Canyon area of the forest, according to court records.

U.S. District Judge James M. Ideman accepted his plea and set a Nov. 24 trial date for Lowenberg, who is the son of the Cypress police chief.

Lowenberg, who is free on bail and remains in the custody of his parents, faces a maximum of 35 years in prison and a fine of up to $4.8 million for the damage and injuries he allegedly caused.

Last week, he was indicted on three felony counts of arson, setting forest lands on fire and destruction of government property. At least seven fire fighters were injured fighting the blaze, according to Forest Service officials.

Lowenberg’s father, Ronald E. Lowenberg, and his mother, Kitty, accompanied him to court on Monday, but they had no comment after the hearing in Los Angeles federal court.