BC arsonist pleads no contest

A Boulder Creek man with a history of arson pleaded no contest Dec. 3 to felony arson charges related to a fire at the Mountain Store in Boulder Creek in August.
Larry Bourdeau, 64, was arrested on suspicion of using a lighter to set fire to some papers on a bulletin board Aug. 21 at the Mountain Store.
Surveillance video showed Bourdeau starting the fire and leaving, followed by three teenage boys who arrived about 15 minutes later and extinguished the fire before it spread.
An investigation found that Bourdeau had taken the Metro bus to Boulder Creek and left the bus at the Mountain Store before starting the fire.
Bourdeau was convicted of setting fire to a newsstand at the Grog Shop in Santa Cruz on Dec. 31, 2008. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 120 days in jail and ordered to take prescribed medication and comply with the county’s mental health team.
His no-contest plea requires him to register with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office for the rest of his life. He will be sentenced Feb. 23.