A former UC Irvine professor who pleaded guilty to setting a string of fires after his son's death was sentenced on Thursday to 14 years and four months in state prison, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced.
Rainer Klaus Reinscheid, 49, of Irvine, was sentenced for committing a series of arsons at his son's high school, the home of the school’s assistant principal and in a park, the DA's office said in a release.
He lit newspapers, brush and vegetation, a book, and a plastic porch chair on fire, and he used fireplace logs in some cases as an accelerant, the release stated.
In addition to the fires, Reinscheid allegedly wrote emails describing his plan to burn down University High School, commit sexual assaults, buy firearms and murder school officials and students, and then kill himself after the plotted massacre.
His son had been disciplined over a minor theft incident at the school, prosecutors said. Weeks later, in March 2012, the teen killed himself in Mason Park Preserve -- the same park Reinscheid set ablaze one month later.
The judge's sentencing came after four days of emotional testimony.
Reinscheid's supporters Tuesday argued that no one was physically harmed by his actions, but those at his son's school -- which Reinscheid targeted -- said they will continue to be afraid were he to be freed.
Reinscheid was not charged in connection with the emails. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of arson and attempted arson.
Between July 4 and 24, 2012, the professor set five fires -- three on the school's campus, one at the park and one at a school administrator's home, authorities said.
Reinscheid's attorney, Ron Cordova, said his client was an anguished soul who wrote the emails as a "therapeutic exercise."
In court Tuesday, a tearful Reinscheid promised he would not reoffend.
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologize," he said.
"I can promise you that when released, I will not be a threat to harm any person or property," he added.
Before Reinscheid spoke, however, workers at his son's former school urged prosecutors to give him the maximum sentence. University High School's vice principal -- whose home Reinscheid set fire to three times -- issued a passionate plea.
"We need you to help us return to work with less fear each day," one said.
During Thursday's sentencing, one victim described an arson happening outside his home just 30 minutes after he turned out his lights, a testimony during which he said his sense of safety has been shattered.
Reinscheid is scheduled for a restitution hearing Nov. 15, 2013, in Santa Ana.
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