Wayne Glasser, who pleaded guilty in 1998 to sexual assault charges, had reported threats from neighbors twice but declined to give names, Detective Troy Stemple said Wednesday.
Investigators found evidence that gasoline was used in the June 25 fire, Sgt. Scott Claton said. He said investigators were looking at all possibilities, including that the fire was started by someone with access to the home.
``People need to know where I am at to protect themselves. That doesn't give them the right to attack us,'' Glasser told the Rocky Mountain News.
He and his wife, Lyssa, moved to a Denver motel after the fire in their rented home, police said.
``I'm not going to make excuses for what my husband did. I never had. He's still a human being. Some people might not think he is, but he is,'' Lyssa Glasser said.
Lisa Brody, who lives nearby, said several neighbors were unhappy about the Glassers but said she knew of no threats against them.
Wayne Glasser pleaded guilty to child sexual assault using force and sexual assault of an at-risk adult. In both cases he had picked up hitchhikers. He was sentenced to 25 years' probation with intensive supervision.
He was convicted of a probation violation in April for picking up another hitchhiker and faces up to 17 1/2 years in prison when he is sentenced in August.
Glasser said he and his wife were driven out of another home in the Highlands Ranch area near Castle Rock by angry neighbors.
