Court Sentences Trio for Arlington Arson Attack
Three men were sentenced to prison time following an arson attack at an apartment building in Arlington.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Property Crime
A court sentenced Marvin Hernandez Lopez, Erasbiel Flores, and Wilmer Agustin de Leon for setting fire to an apartment building located at 1020 South Quebec St. The 2025 fire forced residents to evacuate their homes and resulted in smoke inhalation injuries.
Why it matters
The sentencing concludes a criminal case stemming from a dispute over a firearm. The incident caused significant displacement and health risks for local residents living in the affected apartment complex.
Hernandez Lopez received five years in prison, while De Leon and Flores each received two-year sentences. All three men were ordered to undergo mental health and substance use treatment and pay restitution.
The players
Marvin Hernandez Lopez
He is one of the three men convicted of arson for igniting gasoline in an apartment stairwell.
Wilmer Agustin de Leon
He was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of probation for his role in the apartment fire.
Erasbiel Flores
He received a two-year prison sentence and three years of supervised probation for the arson conviction.
The details
The group initiated the fire on May 15, 2025, after purchasing gasoline at a 7-Eleven. Hernandez Lopez ignited the fuel inside a stairwell at the South Quebec St. property.
Timeline
The arson occurred at the apartment building on May 15, 2025.
Marvin Hernandez Lopez was sentenced on July 17, 2026.
Wilmer Agustin de Leon was sentenced on September 4, 2026.
Erasbiel Flores was sentenced on October 23, 2026.
Legal Context
This case follows a pattern established by the prosecution of residential arson cases in Northern Virginia. Courts in this jurisdiction regularly pair incarceration with mandatory substance use treatment and financial restitution for crimes involving multi-family dwellings.
The resolution of this case brings closure to the residents of the South Quebec St. building who were displaced during the 2025 fire. The court-ordered treatments for the defendants serve as a procedural step intended to address the underlying factors that led to the arson.
The takeaway
Acts of arson create lasting safety and housing instability for the entire community. Residents should remain vigilant and report suspicious behavior near stairwells or building entrances to local authorities.
Further reading
Find more local reports on recent law enforcement activity in the Property Crime section.
