A Chula Vista man whose apartment was severely burned was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on eight charges involving possession of explosives, destructive devices, and a small amount of heroin and methamphetamine.
Although explosives, ammunition and hand-made zip guns were found in the burned unit of David Wasson, 32, the results of the cause of the Oct. 17, 2016, fire were inconclusive.
Damages to the building at 1067 Fourth Ave. were estimated at $225,000. Wasson told police he was cooking and his shirt caught fire. He was treated for burns at a hospital before being taken to jail.
Chula Vista Police officers testified in the preliminary hearing held by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Patricia Garcia.
She dismissed one count of possession of a hand-made zip gun which Deputy District Attorney Christopher Chandler said would not have worked.
Chula Vista Police said Wasson was not identified as being involved with any terrorist or criminal organization, but what those materials were doing in his apartment is not known. There was no arson charged filed against him.
Garcia ordered Wasson to next appear in court on May 16 to get a trial date set. He remains in jail on $200,000 bail and has pleaded not guilty.
Garcia also ordered Wasson to stand trial on possession of small amounts of heroin and methamphetamine, which are misdemeanors, and a misdemeanor charge of giving false information to an officer.
Twenty neighbors were temporarily displaced after the fire. Records say Wasson was convicted of grand theft in 2010 and burglary in 2012.
