Pepperdine graduate Robert Newton was convicted of "entering a public building with intent to commit a felony" and second degree burglary but found not guilty of the arson charges. He was sentenced to three years in jail and a $500 fine.

The charges came after fires in two buildings on Pepperdine's LA campus in the fall of 1971. Witnesses said they saw Newton leaving the area after each fire. The fires caused a total of about $200 in damage, and structural damage was only discovered in one building.¹