OROVILLE — The man accused of starting the Park Fire on July 24 in Chico pleaded not guilty to arson charges during arraignment Thursday in Butte County Superior Court.
Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, is accused of pushing a burning car into a ravine in upper Bidwell Park, triggering the fire that burned almost 430,000 acres and destroyed more than 600 structures. The fire was still just 61% contained as of Thursday, but its growth has been stopped.
Public defender Nicole Diamond entered the plea to a charge of “willful and malicious arson” on Stout’s behalf in the courtroom of Judge Kristen Lucena.
Diamond also denied four “enhancements” on the charge: two prior felony convictions, a felony prison term and the allegation the fire destroyed structures.
Stout will return to court Sept. 19 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.
That preliminary hearing is where Lucena would determine if there’s enough evidence to proceed to trial. If she determines the evidence is sufficient, a trial date would be set at that time.
Stout’s two prior felony convictions are “strikes” under California’s three strikes law. Willful and malicious arson — also called intentional arson — would be a third strike. If convicted Stout would face 25 years to life in prison, since he already has two previous strikes.
District Attorney Mike Ramsey has said Stout was convicted in 2001 in Butte County of sex crimes against a minor, and in 2003 in Kern County for robbery with great bodily injury. He was sentenced to state prison for 20 years after the robbery conviction.
Most of the discussion in court Thursday involved the timing of the next hearing. The prosecution, represented by Marc Noel, had asked for two weeks. But Diamond successfully argued for more time, saying a massive amount of evidence was coming to her through the discovery process and time was needed to evaluate it.
She also said of the intentional arson charge, “we believe we have evidence to disprove that allegation,” and needed more time for further investigation.
Stout could also be convicted of a lesser charge of reckless arson if a jury thought the evidence didn’t support the accusation he intentionally started the fire. That would not be a strike, and normally would draw a sentence of about 11 years.
But Ramsey said that because the 2001 conviction constituted a “super strike,” conviction on the lesser charge would result in the same 25-to-life sentence.
However that conviction is one of the enhancements being challenged by the defense.
July 24
Ramsey said Stout was seen drinking at the Bear Hole in upper Bidwell Park on the afternoon of July 24 until “highly intoxicated,” and driving towards town recklessly on the gravel road.
He drove about 600 yards before running off the road near Alligator Hole and becoming high-centered on a roadside berm. Ramsey said witnesses saw dust flying and the sound of metal against rock, as Stout apparently tried to free the car.
Instead that ignited the dry gas underneath the vehicle, which also caught the car on fire.
According to Ramsey, at this point a witness saw Stout standing beside the burning car. She said he got inside for a moment — presumably to put the car into neutral — and then exited and pushed the burning car down into a ravine. There, the surrounding vegetation caught fire, and flames quickly spread out of control.
Ramsey said Stout has admitted to much of that account, but has denied pushing the car into the ravine. Whether he did or not would be the determining factor of whether the fire was intentional or reckless.
Related Articles
Hooker trial set to begin in San Mateo
25-year-old gets 30 years for deadly cannabis deal; 21-year-old pleads to shooting marijuana dealer in face | Midday Report
Plea entry delayed in Ronnie Dean Stout’s Park Fire arson case
DA: Arson suspect reportedly ‘heavily intoxicated’ before fire ignition
Butte County Grand Jury tackles homelessness, library budget, wastewater
+ There are no comments
Add yours