Carlsbad Chiropractor Will Be Tried in Arson at Bonita Store

A Carlsbad chiropractor was ordered Monday to stand trial on charges of arson and violating the civil rights of an Iraqi man who owns a Bonita store that was set afire last month.

Douglas Wofford, 41, was ordered to appear in Superior Court on Aug. 21 for arraignment and setting of a trial date as a result of Monday’s preliminary hearing conducted by Municipal Judge Robert McDonald.

Wofford is charged with the July 21 arson of the Bonita Market, a fire which at first was believed to be racially motivated because of swastikas spray-painted on the storefront.

The fire caused at least $200,000 in damages and burned part of a nearby Catholic church.

Court records from Wofford’s divorce show he had made allegations that the manager of the Bonita store had dated Wofford’s ex-wife and had sex with her, an allegation she denied.

In Kneeling Position

The sheriff’s deputy who arrested Wofford at the scene, Anthony Tafoya, testified Monday that he saw the defendant in a kneeling position in front of the store.

“I saw him and within two to three seconds, I saw flames shoot up,” Tafoya said.

Wofford ran but was captured by Tafoya seconds later.

After handcuffing Wofford and placing him in the patrol car, Tafoya said, he took a fire extinguisher from the trunk and futilely tried to put out the blaze.

He said he did extinguish a small part of the fire, which was started with newspapers at the front entrance. The prosecutor, Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Lamborn, said gasoline had been poured on the papers and lit.

Statements Made in Car

Tafoya said Wofford made some statements in the car without being questioned or advised of his rights.

“He asked me if I ever caught an arsonist before. I said I had not,” Tafoya said.

“I’m not an arsonist, but I guess I am now,” Tafoya quoted Wofford as saying.

The chiropractor then asked the penalty for arson, said Tafoya, who told him he didn’t know. Wofford then said he had been caught and would take the punishment, according to Tafoya.

Arson is punishable by a maximum seven-year prison term.

“There’s more to this than meets the eye,” the defendant was quoted as telling Tafoya.

Bail remains at $100,000.