SPOKANE, Wash – The man accused of starting one of the most devastating wildfires in Spokane County history has a previous conviction for killing his dad.
Mesa Police say in October 2010, Farinacci, then 22 years old, was studying for a test at his parents’ home. He was upset because his mom was making too much noise while making dinner.
Police say his adoptive father started fighting with him about his lack of respect for his mom. The father, Jeffrey Farinacci, told Aaron to wash the dishes.
Police say Farinacci got upset and left the room and his father followed him.
“Upon entry to the bedroom, [Aaron Farinacci] shot his father with a handgun kept in the room. The bullet struck the victim in the face, by his jaw.”
Police say Mr. Farinacci turned to leave and Aaron Farinacci shot him again in the back.
The report says Farinacci then shot himself in the chest with the same gun he used to shoot his father.
The presentence report says Farinacci was remorseful and knew he had to pay for what he did.
“He hopes to move past this event and someday have a family of his own,” the report said.
A court evaluation said Farinacci posed a “medium to high risk to reoffend.”
The report cites his lack of social skills and mental health issues.
His mother wrote a letter to the court saying her husband was supportive of Aaron and his brother through their life, taking them to to church, teaching them to ride bikes and working with them in Boy Scouts.
She described family vacations and holidays.
She pointed out they buried her husband on his birthday.
In the letter, she refers to her son as “the defendant” and says he should be charged with murder, not manslaughter.
She did say, however, she would go along with the plea agreement.
“I do not want to testify against the defendant for he is my son,” she wrote. “And I still love him even though he killed my husband.”
“He may have some learning disabilities, but he is intelligent enough to know that when you point a loaded gun at someone and pull the trigger, they may get hurt or killed,” she wrote.
Court documents from Arizona reveal Farinacci pleaded guilty to manslaughter in that case in August 2012.
A judge sentenced him to 12 years in prison, two years credit for time served.
He was released in December 2020 and was still on probation when he moved to Washington. He initially lived with his brother, then moved in with his girlfriend and her family.
Court documents show Farinacci received several reprimands for not complying with certain directives from his probation officer. Despite not paying some of his court-ordered fees, the judge released him from probation requirements in December 2023.
Farinacci was arrested Monday night in Spokane and is being held on arson charges in connection with the Old Trails Fire that has burned thousands of acres and hundreds of homes in Spokane.
Court records show it’s at least the third time he’s been questioned about arson in the last year.
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