A 67-year-old man who allegedly set fire to his estranged wife’s Banning home last month pleaded not guilty Wednesday to arson and burglary charges.
Prosecutors allege that while the victim was out of town on July 8, Edward Clark called her and threatened to destroy her things, then went to the home about an hour later and set two separate fires inside her residence that, according to Cal Fire, destroyed “a bedroom and contents.”
Firefighters contained the fires, which were set in the bedroom and kitchen shortly before 2 p.m., within about 20 minutes.
Cal Fire investigators also found a blanket “shoved into the fuel fill neck of a motorcycle” in the garage, though no fire had been set there, according to an arrest warrant declaration. A Cal Fire investigator said in court documents that the motorcycle was rigged as a “trailer,” which allows an arsonist to ignite a blaze after he has fled the area.
Clark, who is charged with two counts of arson, one count of attempted arson and one count of burglary, was arrested Saturday on Avenue K in Calimesa, according to county jail records.
He’s being held in lieu of $1 million bail and is due back in court Aug. 24 for a felony settlement conference.