Victoria Police detectives have extradited a man (believed to be James Balcombe) from Western Australia after he failed to appear in court in 2018 in relation to an alleged series of arson attacks involving jumping castles which included AA Jumping Castles in Hoppers Crossing.
The 55-year-old man was arrested in Perth on 18 August by West Australian Police and the Australian Federal Police as part of a separate investigation.
The man was wanted in Victoria after failing to appear in court in December 2018 and a warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.
He had been charged in 2017 with eight counts of arson and three counts of attempted arson as part of an investigation into a series of fires involving jumping castles.
Police had previously conducted a number of public appeals in an effort to locate the man.
He is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court this evening upon his return to Victoria.
