Leesburg Apartments arson case heads to district court | News

A Leesburg man waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Loudoun County District Court Monday afternoon on charges related to a June 2 fire at the Leesburg Apartments.

Jose Misael Hernandez is charged with two counts of arson or destruction of a dwelling. In exchange for waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, prosecutors agreed to drop one of those charges.

Leesburg Police officers responded to a 911 call on June 2 regarding a dryer fire in a laundry room at 807 Edwards Ferry Road NE. An investigation by the Fire Marshal's Office determined that paper and cardboard in the room had caught fire.

Surveillance footage showed a man wearing a red polo shirt leaving the washroom 17 minutes before the 911 call was made. According to the police report, officers found Hernandez in his apartment in the same building, where he was wearing a red polo shirt.

In a later interview, Hernandez admitted to starting the fire after becoming upset over a recent custody ruling regarding his daughter. He said he wrote his feelings on a piece of paper before lighting it on fire and throwing it in the dryer. He then called 911, according to evidence presented in the case.

Hernandez is scheduled to appear in Loudoun County District Court on October 10 to face the remaining charges.