Illegal immigrant Marcelino Gillen-Hernandez arrested on arson charges
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Police arrested an illegal immigrant in Florida on charges of arson and felony criminal mischief, Florida police announced Sunday.
Authorities say Marcelino Gillen-Hernandez tried to start a fire twice at a property in Wahneta, Florida. Authorities first received reports from the property owner, who said he was able to extinguish the final fire with a garden hose after seeing the fire glowing underneath a mobile home on the property.
He told police that Hernandez admitted to starting both fires, one in early January and the other this weekend. Hernandez told authorities he was told to do this by people “at a residence where he used to live.”
Authorities said Hernandez made the same confession during a police interrogation.
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Florida police arrested an immigrant in Polk County on Sunday, February 1, 2026, on arson and other charges. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
Police said that after Hernandez was taken into custody, he told deputies that he had previously broken some windows at the Placita Mexico store in Wahneta.
Police said, “Hernandez stated that he tried to break the window using a stone the first time, but failed. He said that he later returned and successfully broke a door window. On another occasion, he stated that he hit the door with a hammer along with the stone.”
Hernandez is charged with three counts of criminal mischief involving property damage of less than $1,000, two counts of criminal mischief involving property damage of less than $1,000 and one count of criminal mischief involving property damage of $1,000 or more. He also faces two counts of arson.
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Police arrested an illegal immigrant in Florida on Sunday, February 1, 2026, on arson charges. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
Police said each of the charges was increased by one degree because the suspect was in the country illegally.
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“This suspect, who was in the country illegally, committed very serious crimes by taking advantage of someone who allowed him to live in a mobile home on his property. He also caused over $1,600 in damage to a local business,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. he said.
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“We also learned that he threatened to kill a 74-year-old man with a knife in 2024 and was arrested for aggravated assault on a person over 65. He should have been deported at that time and perhaps he wouldn’t be here to terrorize and victimize others,” Judd said.
