An Allentown man will spend decades in state prison after pleading guilty in a violent domestic dispute that escalated into a multi-home fire in the city.
The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office announced that 61-year-old Santos Mota-Ramirez entered guilty pleas Wednesday to two counts of criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault, arson, and causing a catastrophe.
Mota-Ramirez waived his right to a pre-sentence investigation and was immediately sentenced by Robert L. Steinberg to 20 to 40 years in state prison.
Domestic Dispute Turns Violent
Authorities say just before 4:30 p.m. on December 26, 2024, officers with the Allentown Police Department responded to the 700 block of Cedar Street for a reported domestic disturbance.
When officers arrived, they located a woman with visible redness to her face and neck. According to prosecutors, the victim told police Mota-Ramirez assaulted her and attempted to stab her with a knife during the altercation.
As officers entered the residence, they observed Mota-Ramirez coming into the kitchen area from the rear of the home — where flames had already begun to appear.
Fire Spreads, Residents Trapped
The fire quickly escalated inside the Cedar Street rowhome. Officials say a woman was inside the basement at the time the fire began and was unable to escape on her own.
She was rescued by the Allentown Fire Department and transported to a hospital with second-degree burns and smoke inhalation.
The blaze spread through multiple attached homes, ultimately displacing 31 residents from six properties. Prosecutors said several residents were placed in danger of death or serious bodily injury as the fire intensified.
Several firefighters were also injured while battling the blaze.
Charges and Sentencing
By pleading guilty, Mota-Ramirez accepted responsibility for both the violent assault and the fire that followed. The “causing a catastrophe” charge reflects the widespread risk created by setting a fire in attached residential structures — a scenario that significantly endangered both occupants and first responders.
Under Pennsylvania law, his 20-to-40-year sentence means he must serve at least 20 years before becoming eligible for parole consideration.
No additional victims were reported following the incident. Authorities have not released further details regarding the long-term condition of the injured victim or firefighters.
