On Sunday, August 14th, 2022, at 3:15 pm, the Turlock Fire Department was dispatched to a reported fire near the intersection of Pedras Rd and N Golden State Blvd, Turlock.

When firefighters arrived on scene, they found a small vegetation fire starting to catch a fence on fire with a subject later identified as Jesse Gil, 54, of Turlock, attempting to put the fire out by putting dirt over it.

Firefighters made contact with Gil who denied starting the fire, however, they requested the Turlock Police Department and Stanislaus Regional Fire Investigations Unit because they knew that Gil had previously been arrested for starting a fire.

Firefighters were able to quickly put the fire out and prevent it from spreading.

Officers arrived on scene and began investigating. While checking the area Gil had been in, officers located a firearm. No other people had been seen in close proximity to the area where the firearm had been found.

Gil was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or person addicted to a narcotic and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.

The investigation into the fire remains on-going.

Gil had previously been arrested on Tuesday, May 3rd after setting a small fire in the old Jura’s Pizza Parlor, 309 N Center St.