St. Cloud Man Charged In Crossroads Center Fire Was Convicted In 2016 Library Arson

(KNSI) – The man charged with setting the fire that led to the evacuation of Crossroads Center on Monday was convicted of the same crime a decade ago, when he set fire to the St. Cloud Library.

Jorge Ozornia was charged Tuesday in Stearns County District Court with one count of first-degree arson. The 57-year-old is being held in the Stearns County Jail on $100,000 bond without conditions, or $50,000 with conditions.

Court records show Ozornia was convicted of first-degree arson for a fire he set inside the St. Cloud Library on August 17th, 2016. A library employee called police that afternoon to report a man tearing pages out of a book and lighting them. Witnesses told officers he was fanning the flames with the book to keep the fire going, and that when one patron walked up to him, he told the man to call police.

Officers found Ozornia at the library’s front entrance. According to the complaint, he put his arms out with his wrists together, in a handcuffing position, before any officer said a word to him about a fire. He then admitted setting it. The blaze damaged furniture, books, flooring, walls and a window, and the library was closed more than two months for cleaning.

Ozornia was sentenced on November 21st, 2016, to just under 11 years in prison and ordered to pay $956,760.47 in restitution. He has not paid any of it.

The two cases share several details. In both, witnesses said Ozornia stayed at the scene rather than running, and in both, he indicated to people around him that he wanted police involved. The complaint in this week’s case says he told the mall manager he had started the fires, that he was mad at himself and that he wanted to be arrested.

Court records show Ozornia has 17 convictions in Stearns, Meeker, Chisago, Hennepin, Kandiyohi and Chippewa counties dating back to 1994. The convictions include assault, property damage, possession of stolen property and driving while intoxicated.

The current charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $35,000 fine. His next court date is set for September 18th.

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