ALLENTOWN, Pa. – An Allentown man has pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a domestic dispute and arson case that displaced 31 people from six homes, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. 

Santos Mota-Ramirez, 61, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, simple assault, arson and causing a catastrophe, the DA’s Office said. 

Mota-Ramirez waived his right to a pre-sentence investigation and was sentenced Wednesday by Judge Robert L. Steinberg to serve 20 to 40 years in state prison, according to the news release. 

Just before 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, 2024, Allentown police were called to the 700 block of Cedar Street for a domestic dispute, the DA’s Office said. 

Authorities say they found a woman who had visible redness to her face and neck. The victim told officers that Mota-Ramirez had assaulted her and attempted to stab her with a knife during the dispute, according to the news release. 

Officers entered the home and found Mota-Ramirez entering the kitchen from the rear of the home where flames began appearing, according to the DA’s Office. 

One woman was inside the basement of the Cedar Street home where the fire began. She was not able to escape the basement and had to be rescued by the Allentown Fire Department, according to authorities. 

That victim had to be hospitalized for second-degree burns and smoke inhalation, the DA’s Office said. 

Several residents had to be evacuated from their homes and were in danger of death or serious bodily injury, officials said. Several firefighters were also injured battling the fire.

The investigation revealed that Mota-Ramirez had dumped gasoline inside the basement of his home and lit it on fire, according to investigators.Â