1 week Ago By Steve Schoonover
OROVILLE — The man accused of starting the fire that destroyed much of Cohasset last summer will go to trial in November, unless he accepts a plea bargain that has been offered.Ronnie Dean Stout II is charged with starting the Park Fire on the afternoon of July 24 by pushing a burning car into a brushy ravine near the Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park.The fire ultimately burned 430,000 acres and more than 700 structures in Cohasset and Forest Ranch.
Thursday he waived his right to a jury trial, and a trial before a judge was set for Nov. 3.It was also revealed that Stout has been offered a plea bargain, although it would not change his sentence if he accepts it.
Stout is charged with intentional or malicious arson, which counts as a strike under California law. As he already has two prior strikes, the third conviction would result in a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.He’s been offered the chance to plead to negligent arson, which normally would not be a strike.
But as Stout’s first strike is considered a “super strike,” any felony conviction would result in the same 25-to-life sentence.The deal would also require Stout to admit to the first two strikes.Outside court, prosecutor Marc Noel said the District Attorney’s Office is confident the evidence supports the intentional arson charge, but Stout maintains it was an accident.
“But with his prior record, he’s going to prison for 25 to life.”Stout’s two prior “strikes” under California’s “three-strikes” law are a 2001 conviction in Butte County for sex crimes against a child under 14 years of age, and a 2003 conviction in Kern County for robbery with great bodily injury.Thursday’s hearing before Judge Kristen Lucena was set to determine whether a preliminary hearing would be held in the case.
After it was resolved that the preliminary would not be held, Lucena set the trial date, which is more than 15 months after the fire. A trial readiness hearing was also set for Oct. 30, and Stout could accept the plea bargain at that time.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said after an earlier hearing that witnesses say they saw Stout drinking at the Bear Hole earlier on the afternoon of July 24. He was said to be “highly intoxicated” when he left to drive back into town, and he was observed speeding down Upper Park Road.About 600 yards from the Bear Hole, the car ran off the road and became high-centered on a berm, according to Ramsey.
He said witnesses reported sounds and sights consistent with an effort to free the vehicle.Those efforts apparently ended up catching the grass under the vehicle on fire and subsequently ignited the car..
