Albuquerque man faces federal arson charges for Molotov attack
An Albuquerque man with a documented history of disputes with his neighbors is facing arson and explosives charges after police say he threw a Molotov cocktail at a neighbor’s window, igniting himself in the process. The June attack was captured on a security camera, and the neighbor being targeted told Albuquerque police that she heard the boom and went outside, where she saw Jonathan Griego appearing to prepare to throw another bottle before appearing to catch on fire himself.
Griego was arrested after a roughly hour-long SWAT standoff, according to the report. He is now facing federal charges of arson, dangerous use of explosives, and criminal damage to property.
A judge ordered Griego held in jail pending trial. His trial date has not been set.
The federal arson charge carries a minimum five-year sentence if convicted.
The Molotov cocktail attack is not Griego’s first run-in with neighbors or the law. In February, a neighbor at his old apartment complex accused him of shooting her dog in the face with a BB gun. The dog survived, and animal cruelty charges against Griego were dropped after a witness refused to appear in court.
In 2021, Griego was arrested and pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his neighbor’s cat in front of his three-year-old son. He was sentenced to a year of probation.
