Oakland’s Mayor Outraged That Rothenberg Is in Town

OAKLAND —  An outraged Mayor Lionel Wilson said Friday he was shocked to learn that Charles Rothenberg, who set his 6-year-old son on fire, has been paroled to his city and called for Gov. George Deukmejian to move Rothenberg elsewhere.

Alameda County Supervisor Mary King also decried what she said is Rothenberg’s “irrational lust for the spotlight” and said she would get others to put pressure on Deukmejian.

“I was disappointingly surprised to find that this man is in our community,” said Wilson, who said he first learned Rothenberg is living in Oakland from a story Friday in the Los Angeles Times.

“I am outraged and plan to contact the governor, both verbally and in writing, to get this man moved,” Wilson said.

Rothenberg splashed his son with kerosene and set him ablaze in 1983 in a twisted effort to hurt his ex-wife, who had threatened to withhold visitation rights. The boy suffered third-degree burns over 90% of his body and was left permanently disfigured.

When Rothenberg was paroled from prison Jan. 24, his son said he feared that his father would hurt him again.

In a telephone interview with The Times on Thursday, Rothenberg said he lives quietly in a “crummy” Oakland neighborhood infested by crack dealers and drug addicts day and night.

He said he moves about the city freely and is not recognized on the streets. He wears an electronic surveillance anklet and is under round-the-clock guard by parole agents.

“I can do pretty much what I want,” he told The Times. “I’m just the most-watched man in America.”

Wilson said Rothenberg’s comments about Oakland reflect a lack of concern about his community. The mayor said he wants to make sure Oakland does not become a “dumping ground” for paroled convicts.

King said she will meet with other supervisors and argue that they should ask Deukmejian to review Rothenberg’s parole.

“Someone who is capable of this sort of irrational lust for the spotlight might be likely to take steps to return to protective custody,” she said.

She described Rothenberg’s interview with The Times as “a plea to be sent back to prison.”