L.A. man charged in burning of homeless woman

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly setting a homeless woman on fire as she slept on a bus bench.

Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Sean Carney says 24-year-old Dennis Petillo is scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Prosecutors will ask that his bail be set at $1.03 million.

In addition to attempted murder, Petillo is charged with aggravated mayhem.

Carney alleges that Petillo threw a flammable liquid on the 67-year-old woman, then set her on fire Thursday.

The woman remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

The woman had slept on the bench for years.

If convicted, Petillo faces a maximum of up to life in prison if convicted.