Man sentenced in motel room explosion

A Fountain Valley man was sentenced to 33 years to life in state prison for causing an explosion that started a fire in a motel room, according to authorities.

Thanh Van Quang, 39, was also ordered to pay more than $177,000 in restitution, according to a press statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office.

A jury found him guilty Oct. 30, 2013, on one count each of arson of an inhabited property and possession of a flammable material.

Last year’s incident marked the fifth conviction for Quang. He had four strikes in 1998 for voluntary manslaughter, assault with a firearm and two counts of robbery, according to the statement.

On Nov. 30, 2012, Quang had argued with the manager at the Pueblo Motel in Santa Ana about the defendant inviting guests to his room. He later walked to a nearby gas station, bought a fuel canister and filled it with gasoline before returning to his motel room, the statement said.

Quang then caused an explosion, which started a fire and damaged his and neighboring rooms.

— Anthony Clark Carpio

Twitter: @acocarpio