Orlando fan faces federal arson charges for burning child with torches

A man has been charged with “arson of a building resulting in personal injury” after he fired two flares into the stands during an Orlando City game at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

If convicted, Giovanni Isai Ramirez Reyes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and up to 40 years in federal prison, the government said in a statement.

According to the unsealed indictment, Ramirez Reyes lit the flares before throwing them into the crowd on Feb. 24 as Orlando City CF hosted Montreal for the opening game of the 2024 Major League Soccer season.

The flares subsequently caused burns to a child attending the game and caused damage to the stadium when they caused a fire, the indictment says. The defendant is charged with “one or more violations of federal criminal law,” which will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate.

“Since February, our club has worked diligently with local and federal law enforcement to identify and hold individuals accountable for serious violations of Inter&Co Stadium policies,” Orlando City SC said in a statement.

“These violations included the illegal possession and use of a flare at the venue, which ultimately resulted in damage to the stadium and injury to a child in our fan area.”

“We can confirm that an arrest was made today through the work of the club’s security team and local and federal authorities. The club can also confirm that additional individuals whose breaches of stadium protocols enabled this offense have also been banned from the premises.

“We continue to emphasize that the safety of our fans, our players or our staff is always our top priority. Our club will never tolerate actions that jeopardize or compromise this safety.”

Ramirez Reyes, of Orlando, was arrested Oct. 15 but pleaded not guilty to the charges listed in the indictment. His hearing is scheduled for Nov. 12 at the Orlando Federal Courthouse, with trial scheduled for Dec. 2.