A man who allegedly attempted arson in Ventura was charged with aggravated assault weeks ago

A homeless man arrested after setting himself on fire in Ventura earlier this month has been charged with aggravated assault, including a stabbing and robbery, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Efrain Troncoso, 22, is facing 10 charges including three counts of attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.

Joey Buttitta, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, in a written statement said Troncoso is facing multiple charges, including aggravated assault. Troncoso did not file a plea in court.

The attack came three weeks after he was arrested for allegedly starting a fire outside Banfield Pet Hospital while firefighters were battling the Mountain Fire, which has destroyed more than 200 homes and burned nearly 20,000 acres.

At that time, Troncoso was arrested for allegedly vandalizing property and resisting arrest, which resulted in the injury of a police officer. But because of the size of the fire he allegedly started, which included pine logs and needles, he was charged with disorderly conduct and eventually stayed out of jail, authorities said.

Three weeks later, prosecutors say, he committed a series of violent incidents in downtown Ventura on Nov. 23.

The Ventura Police Department said that night they received a 911 call about a person who had been stabbed in the back by a man on a bicycle. When the police came to the victim's aid, they received a second report that another person had been stabbed several times in the neck.

“Minutes later, the third victim was hit on the head with a metal rod and robbed,” said Buttitta. “While the police were responding to these incidents, another 911 call reported a bull with a knife.”

Prosecutors accused Troncoso of stealing the fourth victim's keys.

Buttitta said the victims were taken to local hospitals and are recovering from the attack.

Troncoso, who is in custody, is scheduled to return to court on December 9 for a sobriety hearing.