A man was charged today with setting a fire at an apartment complex that was being built in Hollywood, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Benicio Garcia (dob 10/23/96) was charged in case BA458250 with two counts each of arson of an inhabited structure and arson of a structure. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in Department 30 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

Deputy District Attorney Rachel Bowers of the Arson and Explosives Section is prosecuting the case.

On June 12, a fire was reported at an apartment building that was under construction in the 400 block of North Helitrope Drive. The blaze destroyed the complex and two other structures were damaged.

Garcia, no one was inside the building when the fire began. One firefighter was injured.

Garcia was seen by witnesses outside the building during the blaze. He was arrested at the scene.

If convicted as charged, Garcia faces a possible maximum sentence of 12 years and four months in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles City Fire Department and the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / case BA458250 / June 14, 2017