Earl Decastro, 47, faces charges including involuntary manslaughter after an 8-year-old girl died from an illegal firework at his Buena Park home last Fourth of July.
Prosecutors say Decastro lit an illegal $400 firework cake as a grand finale during a party on July 4, 2025. The device malfunctioned and sent mortar shells into a driveway where Jasmine Nguyen sat with her family, igniting other fireworks nearby.
Jasmine was pronounced dead at a hospital after Buena Park police tried to revive her. The Orange County District Attorney's Office charged Decastro this week with involuntary manslaughter, recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury, and possessing more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks.
Her mother, Haley Nguyen, described the incident as a quick accident and said she believes Decastro should not be punished. District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated there is nothing accidental about buying and lighting illegal fireworks.