Chico Man Pleads Not Guilty to Arson in Park Fire Case
- A Chico man is accused of starting the Park Fire in California.
- The wildfire has become the fourth-largest in the state's history.
- The man has pleaded not guilty to the charge of arson.
CHICO — Ronnie Dean Stout II, a 42-year-old resident of Chico, has pleaded not guilty to arson charges related to the Park Fire, which has become California's fourth-largest wildfire in history. Prosecutors announced the plea on Thursday, revealing that Stout also denied all special circumstances associated with the charge and his prior convictions. His arrest occurred on July 25, shortly after the fire ignited near Upper Bidwell Park. According to prosecutors, Stout was observed pushing a burning vehicle into a gully near Alligator Hole, prompting an investigation by Cal Fire arson investigators and the Butte County District Attorney's Office, which ultimately identified him as the suspect. Stout has consistently claimed that he did not intentionally start the fire, and he had previously refrained from entering a plea during an arraignment hearing on August 1, which was postponed until Thursday. Stout's legal troubles are compounded by his criminal history, which includes two prior felony convictions classified as "strikes." In 2001, he was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor in Butte County, followed by a 2002 conviction in Kern County for robbery resulting in great bodily injury, leading to a 20-year prison sentence. Stout is scheduled to return to court on September 19 to set a date for a preliminary hearing regarding the arson charges.