A Pacific Beach man received two concurrent 30-day jail sentences for arson behind Fire-Rescue Station No. 21 and an unrelated extortion involving a woman he dated.
According to the sheriff’s department, Brett Engler Hoffman, 34, served his term from May 15 to May 29 at the George Bailey Detention Facility. He was given credit for two days previously spent in jail.
Hoffman pleaded guilty to arson in the Jan. 7, 2023, fire of a watercraft belonging to the Fire-Rescue Lifeguard Division at 750 Grand Ave. Another lifeguard vehicle was set on fire about two hours later at 3:35 a.m. A third vehicle was damaged.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Rachel Cano ordered him to pay $25,067 in restitution and placed him on two years probation. Cano ordered Hoffman to stay away from the Fire-Rescue Station No. 21.
Initially, Hoffman’s case was handled as a mental health diversion in August 2023, and he was released on his recognizance by Cano with restitution to be determined later.
However, when a new case involving extortion came up with a woman Hoffman had been dating, the arson case got another look by the judge.
Hoffman dated a woman he met online in 2023 and persuaded her to pay for a trip to Las Vegas with him. She later declined to go and ended the relationship, causing Hoffman to post her photo in front of her apartment complex with a derogatory name.
The woman testified at the May 15 sentencing, saying “he plastered her picture everywhere” and said he “terrorized women.” She said she felt unsafe.
Hoffman pleaded guilty to extortion. On the plea form, he wrote, “I unlawfully extorted money from the named victim using fear and threat.” A second charge of phone harassment was dropped.
Cano imposed a 30-day concurrent jail term with a 10-year protective order for the victim. Cano barred Hoffman from contacting her and ordered him to pay her $220. Additionally, Hoffman was ordered not to participate in website dating applications while on three years probation, and he was barred from possession and use of alcohol, according to court records.
