The man charged with arson for allegedly setting the 441-acre Fiddler Fire in Ono on Friday admitted to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officer he started the blaze, according to a Cal Fire report filed in Shasta County Superior Court.
He said he did so to protect himself from people who were shooting at him, that report states.
Daniel Lee Bentley, 36, charged with felony arson, told Cal Fire officer Del Beaudry he started the wildland fire after he was fired upon by "several individuals" while walking by a house on Fiddlers Road.
Shasta County Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Hanna, however, said Tuesday he does not believe that explanation, saying there's no evidence a shooting ever occurred.
But he does believe Bentley started the fire.
Bentley pleaded not guilty Monday during his arraignment in Shasta County Superior Court.
He's also charged with possession of concentrated cannabis, a misdemeanor, which was found in his pocket.
According to Beaudry's summary report, he encountered Bentley shortly after midnight on Saturday morning after hearing a Cal Fire engine crew at the fire scene request an ambulance for Bentley, who appeared to have been running and out of breath.
"His clothing was covered in stickers and he was complaining of severe leg cramp," Beaudry wrote.
Asked what he knew about the fire, Bentley said people who lived up the road were shooting at him and he started the fire in order to protect himself from them, Beaudry wrote.
According to the report, Bentley said he was earlier staying at his sister's house in the area, but left and was walking along Fiddlers Road when he passed a house and came into contact with several individuals who started shooting at him.
"When I asked him where he started the fire, he said he could show me and there would be a red bag that he left there," Beaudry wrote.
Taken back to the house where he said the shooting occurred, a burned red bag was found in a drainage ditch about a quarter-mile away, Beaudry wrote, saying the bag contained a machete, a hypodermic needle and canned food.
Two occupants from the residence who were questioned said they were unaware of any shooting or argument, Beaudry wrote.
Bentley was taken by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center for evaluation and, after being medically cleared, was taken to Shasta County Jail. He remains there in lieu of $100,000 bail.
The Fiddler Fire, which scorched 441 acres and destroyed a travel trailer, was declared fully contained Tuesday as crews worked to cut down potentially dangerous trees and perform mop up chores.
At one point of the fire, up to 50 homes had been under evacuation, but all evacuations and road closures have since been lifted.
Bentley is due to have a preliminary hearing July 21 in Shasta County Superior Court.
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