8-16 Cambria man convicted of five misdemeanors in connection with trailer home fire

A Cambria man has been convicted of five misdemeanors in connection with a Town of Calamus trailer home fire in April that took the life of a teenager. 21 year old Jose Hernandez Jr. pleaded no contest in Dodge County Circuit Court to charges of disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property, battery, and two counts of criminal trespassing. An additional count of criminal damage to property and a theft count were dismissed. And a charge of negligent handling of burning material was dismissed without prejudice. A medical examiner determined that 18 year old Victor Aguilar-Bustamante died of carbon monoxide poisoning after a fire started in the residence. A criminal complaint says Hernandez went to the trailer home to pick up a relative who was at a party. That’s when Hernandez noticed that a vehicle belonging to him, and driven to the party by the relative, was locked and the keys were not inside. The complaint says Hernandez became angry and wanted to get his keys back, so he pounded on the trailer and eventually gained access by breaking in through the garage. Once inside, a physical altercation ensued between Hernandez and Aguilar-Bustamante. After the fight, Hernandez left, but the complaint says he entered the trailer a second time because he thought he left his phone inside. This time, Hernandez allegedly lit a few matches to illuminate the dark trailer, and as they burned out, he threw them to the floor. Hernandez was sentenced to 300 days in jail and 30 months of probation.