Arson investigation yields arrests

BURBANK ? A 19-month investigation into an October 2004 explosion at the International Recording Corp. in Burbank resulted in the arrest of two men on Monday on suspicion of arson and fraud, authorities said.

William Schlegel, 59, of Thousand Oaks, and Daniel Medina, 29, of Los Angeles, are charged with sparking a fire that obliterated their recording studio at 75 E. Santa Anita Ave. and showered debris that caused minor damage to vehicles and surrounding properties as far as three blocks away, said Capt. Frank Walbert, an arson investigator for the Fire Department. The men also allegedly filed a fraudulent $12.5-million insurance claim in an attempt to recover losses the fire incurred, he said.

Fire Department Capt. Bob Reinhardt and Chief Dave Starr led the investigation that involved Burbank's Police and Fire Departments, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and several forensics specialists, Walbert said .

"It was determined early on that it was arson and it took quite a while of investigation and getting as much information as we could from both our sources as well as getting information from the insurance company," he said. "Information from both sources led us to the two suspects."

Federal law allows agencies to use information from independent corporations, like insurance companies, to build a case, Walbert said.

Schlegel and Medina are being held at Los Angeles Country Jail, each on $750,000 bail, with a scheduling hearing slated for May 31.