Prosecutors Add 63 Charges Against Arson Suspect

Prosecutors added 63 more charges Tuesday against a German national suspected in a four-night arson spree in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, bringing to 100 the total number of felony counts against him.

Harry Burkhart pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon, and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Upinder S. Kalra raised his bail from $2.85 million to $7.5 million as a result of the newly filed charges.

Burkhart, 24, was initially charged Jan. 4 with — including 28 counts of arson of property and nine of arson of an inhabited structure — in connection with a dozen fires.

Prosecutors added 47 new counts of arson of property, along with 10 additional counts of arson of an inhabited structure and two counts each of arson of an uninhabited structure, attempt to burn and possession of flammable material.

In all, the charges involve 49 fires that caused millions of dollars in property damage, according to the District Attorney's Office.

"Well, you know, the people believe that Mr. Burkhart shouldn't get a free pass simply because he managed to victimize so many people," Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney said outside court. "And, frankly, it's just fairness to the victims and fairness to this community that we charge Mr. Burkhart with all of the crimes that we believe we can prove that he committed against all the victims terrorized in this arson spree. ... To explain his conduct, you really have to present evidence of the entire arson spree."

The prosecutor said he did not anticipate filing any more charges against Burkhart.

Burkhart is due back in court March 1, when a date will be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial.

Burkhart is accused of setting fires between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2 in Hollywood, West Hollywood, Sherman Oaks and Los Angeles. The criminal complaint includes an allegation that an accelerant was used.

Investigators believe Burkhart acted out of rage against Americans after his Russian-born mother was threatened with deportation. An obscenity-laced outburst he let loose at an extradition hearing for his mother on Dec. 29 helped lead to his capture early Jan. 2.

When images of "" were released in connection with the arson fires, a federal law enforcement officer who had witnessed the outburst recognized Burkhart and gave local authorities his name, according to the District Attorney's Office.

According to a court declaration prepared by a Sheriff's Department investigator, Burkhart became enraged during his mother's hearing, shouting things such as "(expletive) all Americans." He was escorted out of the courtroom by U.S. marshals.

Prosecutors have said Burkhart became a "more proficient and more efficient" arsonist as the New Year's weekend wore on, with most of the fires set between the early morning hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

He was and Fairfax Avenue by a . Police said fire-starting materials were found inside the vehicle.

If convicted, Burkhart faces more than 80 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office