4 Arrested in Arson That Destroyed Old Town Newhall's Beloved Theater and Gastropub

Sheriff's detectives say the Aug. 24 fire that caused $13 million in damage on Santa Clarita's Main Street was deliberately set, as displaced businesses begin to rebuild nearby.

By Herald Staff · Oct. 30, 2026, 11:30 AM ET

A historic Main Street of brick storefronts with glowing windows and striped awnings at dusk, beside a vacant lot behind a chain-link fence with orange traffic cones, with oak trees, palms and golden hills under an indigo and amber sky. — The Aug. 24 fire involved seven structures on the 24000 block of North Main Street in Old Town Newhall, including The MAIN theater and Newhall Refinery.

More than two months after a predawn fire gutted a block of Santa Clarita's historic Old Town Newhall, Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives say it was no accident. Four people were arrested Thursday on suspicion of arson and conspiracy in the Aug. 24 blaze, which destroyed a beloved community theater, a longtime gastropub and a boutique and caused about $13 million in property damage.

Detectives from the Sheriff's Department's Arson/Explosives Detail served search warrants at four locations across Los Angeles County on Thursday, the department said in a statement published by SCVNews. Arrested were John Wright, 47, and Jesus Figueroa, 54, both of Canyon Country, and Cristian Leija, 43, and Antoinette Ruiz, 35, both of El Monte.

Held on Bail, Court Date Monday

Sheriff's Deputy Daniel Dominguez said Thursday night that Wright was being held on $500,000 bail, while Figueroa and Leija were being held without bail, the Los Angeles Times reported. The three men are scheduled to appear at the San Fernando Courthouse on Nov. 2. Jail records show Ruiz is also being held without bail; her court date was unclear, according to the Times.

SCVNews identified Wright as the owner of Gary's Auto Body, the Main Street shop where fire officials say the blaze began. KTLA reported that investigators had not explicitly said the man arrested is the same John Wright who owns the shop. Officials have not said what evidence led them to the suspects, what role each is accused of playing or what the motive may have been, and KTLA noted that prosecutors had not announced formal charges.

"Since the day of the fire, they have worked tirelessly to uncover the facts and pursue every investigative lead," Capt. Robbie Royster said of the unit's investigators in the department's statement. "Today's developments are a testament to their hard work and commitment to holding those responsible accountable."

A Block at the Heart of the Arts District

The fire broke out at about 2:55 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, in the 24000 block of North Main Street. A total of 112 firefighters and 58 pieces of equipment responded, FOX 11 reported at the time. The Los Angeles County Fire Department told the Times the fire started inside an auto body shop and spread to an adjoining building that housed several businesses. In all, seven structures were involved.

Among the losses was The MAIN, an 80-seat theater that city spokesperson Carrie Lujan said had been a cherished venue for 30 years and was booked all the way through 2027, CBS Los Angeles reported. The city said firefighters tried to save it, but the flames raced through a shared attic in the century-old building. A local production of "You Got Older" was midway through its run when the theater burned, and the artists behind it lost lighting gear, cameras, tools, costumes and personal heirlooms, according to FOX 11.

Newhall Refinery, the city's first gastropub and a Main Street fixture for more than 13 years, was also destroyed, along with the Care Tucker Style House boutique. The nearby Canyon Theatre Guild suffered only minor damage.

The Times also noted that KTLA reported another fire in the same neighborhood in late September, on the 24000 block of Railroad Avenue near Market Street. It was not immediately clear whether the two fires were connected.

Rebuilding Steps Away

The arrests come as Old Town Newhall is starting to rebuild. Days after the fire, the Santa Clarita City Council pledged a fast recovery. "We're Santa Clarita. We're not going to take five years to rebuild," Councilman Bill Miranda said, according to CBS.

This month, Newhall Refinery signed a lease for the former Draconum Brewery space just down the road and hopes to reopen in the spring, and Care Tucker is moving across the street, The Signal reported. Co-owner Christine Munoz told the paper that a GoFundMe campaign helped her support employees put out of work by the closure and replace lost equipment.

The theater may get a second act, too. City officials are negotiating to buy property on Main Street for a replacement venue, an idea the mayor called "Take 2," The Signal reported. Councilwoman Marsha McLean said building a new theater would show the city is "absolutely 100% committed to rebuilding a theater arts district in Old Town Newhall."

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about the Main Street fire is asked to call the Sheriff's Department's Arson/Explosives unit at 323-881-7500, or to submit tips anonymously through L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org.

Original reporting by The Los Angeles Herald, drawing on the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the news outlets linked above.