Aptos arsonist sentenced, must register as ‘arsonist’ for life

The young man convicted of smashing and torching cars in an Aptos neighborhood in 2014 will spend one year in jail, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.

In addition to that year, Joseph Smith, 20, will serve four years of probation, must register as an arsonist for the rest of his life, and pay about $37,000 in restitution to the victims.

Smith faced up to eight years in jail, according to the DA’s office, but the judge handed down the lighter sentence based on his age and lack of a criminal record.

Smith was 18 when he and two friends, both 17 at the time, vandalized 16 cars and set three more on fire back in November of 2014.

According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the damage from the vandalism spree totaled more than $100,000, and both upset and outraged the neighborhood.