Fernando J. Herrera-Rivera, age 23, of Gaithersburg, has pled guilty to four counts of 2nd degree arson in connection with a spree of fires that occurred early morning on Sunday, September 17 in Gaithersburg. Herrea-Rivera was arrested in the area of N. Frederick Ave that same morning after police used video surveillance footage and witness accounts to identify him. Herrera-Rivera was also wanted on a bench warrant for an unrelated charge.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, “In the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD, before the Honorable Jill Cummins, defendant, Fernando Herrera-Rivera, 24, of Gaithersburg, pled guilty to four counts of second-degree arson. The plea hearing was held November 6, 2024.
On September 17, 2023, Herrera-Rivera lit fires in several locations including:
- A vehicle along Russel Avenue
- A Gaithersburg Police Department building on Fulks Corner
- A beer and wine store in the 400 block of South Frederick Avenue
- A market in the 400 block of South Frederick Avenue
Herrera-Rivera faces up to 80 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 26, 2024. Assistant State’s Attorney Hannah Gleason is prosecuting this matter for the State.”