The man accused of igniting the Park Fire, which has grown to be California's fourth-largest wildfire ever, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson, prosecutors said Thursday.
CHICO — The man accused of igniting the Park Fire, which has grown to be California's fourth-largest wildfire ever, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson, prosecutors said Thursday.Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico, also denied all special circumstances relating to the arson charge and prior convictions, court records show.Stout was arrested on July 25, the day after the fire started near Chico in Upper Bidwell Park.
Stout has maintained that he did not purposely start the fire and previously did not enter a plea in an August 1 arraignment hearing that was continued to Thursday's hearing.Stout is next scheduled to appear in court on September 19 to set a future preliminary hearing.Stout has two previous strike felony convictions in 2001 and 2002. He was first convicted of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a minor in Butte County.
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