Man accused of setting fire to parents’ Federal Way condo

The 34-year-old man was the only person inside the condo at the time of the fire, documents state.

A Federal Way man is accused of setting fire to his parents’ condo unit in a fully occupied building in early May.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Anthony L. Lotomau, 34, with first-degree arson on May 6. His bail is set at $150,000. His arraignment is 9 a.m. Thursday, May 19 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

On May 3 at about 4:50 p.m., firefighters responded to a residential fire at the Overlook Condos near the 29600 block of 18th Avenue South in Federal Way, according to charging documents. Firefighters began an offense attack on the fire in Building B. This three-story building with 12 units, all of which were occupied at the time of the fire, documents state.

While working to put out the fire, crews removed a man in a wheelchair — later identified as Lotomau — from the unit, according to charging documents. He was the only person inside the condo at the time.

Fire investigators determined two separate fires were purposely set in the unit’s master bedroom (a mattress and a crib) and were caused by open flame, documents state. Lotomau is the only person who lives in this room, family members told investigators.

Both of Lotomau’s parents told police that the night before the fire, they allegedly heard Lotomau say he was told by God to “burn this (expletive) up.” Family members told police Lotomau allegedly has mental health issues.

Lotomau reportedly lives in the condo with his parents, his sister and three children ages 5, 1, and 3 months old. The unit sustained about $4,000, documents state.

Prior felony convictions for Lotomau include second-degree assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, robbery and malicious mischief, according to documents.