Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that a suspect was charged with setting a fire that caused catastrophic damage to the San Gabriel Mission last summer.

“The loss to the Mission was in the millions of dollars but the loss to the community is immeasurable,” said District Attorney Gascón.

John David Corey, aka “Joker,” faces two felony counts of arson of an inhabited structure and one count each of arson during a state of emergency, first-degree residential burglary and possession of flammable material.

Case BA495218 was filed for warrant. A date for arraignment is yet to be determined.

On July 11, 2020 Corey is charged with breaking into the historic mission

and starting the fire, which spread to the roof and along the length of the church.