A Sunland man who allegedly threw an incendiary device into his ex-girlfriend’s apartment in Glendale was charged Tuesday with attempted murder and other counts.
Gagik Akopyan, 36, pleaded not guilty to one count each of attempted murder, arson of an inhabited structure and injuring a girlfriend.
The criminal complaint alleges that Akopyan used a device designed to accelerate a fire and that he was convicted between 1997 and 2013 of robbery, first-degree residential burglary, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit intimidation of a witness and possession of methamphetamine.
Akopyan allegedly broke a window in his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, removed a board she had placed there for her protection and threw a device inside that caused an explosion and fire last Sunday, according to Deputy District Attorney Jodi Taksar.
Akopyan is also accused of punching the woman on April 8, according to the prosecutor.
He has remained in jail since his arrest Sunday and is due back in a Burbank courtroom May 12, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to require him to proceed to trial.
If convicted as charged, Akopyan could face a possible maximum life prison sentence, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
— City News Service