Man pleads guilty to threatening Home Depot employees with makeshift flame-thrower

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A Lakeside man charged with threatening Home Depot employees in Poway with a makeshift flame-thrower after stealing some tools pleaded guilty Thursday to robbery, child endangerment and driving under the influence of methamphetamine.

Ignacio Brambila, 37, faces seven years in prison and six months in jail when he is sentenced Jan. 7.

His wife, Sarrah Brambila, 35, also pleaded guilty to robbery and child endangerment and faces seven years in prison.

Deputy District Attorney Michael MacNeil said Ignacio Brambila went into the Home Depot on Tech Center Drive about 10 p.m on Sept. 6 and loaded an empty baby stroller with expensive tools.

The defendant left the store without paying for the items and ran to his car, where he retrieved an aerosol bottle and set flame to it, chasing employees while yelling “I’m going to light you on fire!” MacNeil said.

Brambila then drove off with his wife and 2-year-old child, the prosecutor said.

Sheriff’s deputies pulled the couple over a short distance away and found the stolen merchandise in the trunk of the car, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Chad Boudreau.

Sarrah Brambila admitted that she had used meth and deputies suspected that her husband was also under the influence, MacNeil said.