CASPER — A 46-year-old Casper man who police say told investigators that anger led him to commit arson pleaded not guilty to starting 13 fires at an arraignment in Natrona County District Court on Tuesday.
Dallas Ray Smith stood beside his attorney Dylan Rosalez before Judge Kerri Johnson as she went over the 13 counts of arson against him that include two first-degree arson charges, one third-degree charge, and 10 counts of fourth-degree arson. Police say Smith posed a threat to the city through the summer, setting blazes around Casper between May and August.
The cumulative charges carry a potential penalty of 55 years in prison.
Smith told the judge that he takes medication and has been diagnosed with a mental illness but could understand the proceedings against him.
Johnson read through the charges and asked him if he understood the potential penalties for each one.
“Yes, I do ma’am,” he said.
Johnson asked him how he would plead, and he replied, “not guilty.”
Rosalez asked the judge to consider reducing the $30,000 cash or surety bond which had been increased during his preliminary examination from $20,000 as police added more arson counts against Smith. He said his client receives a disability check, has housing, and wants to work to get money for restitution. Smith also has pets.
“He’s got two dogs he is concerned about,” Rosalez said. “He is very attached to them and wants to get out.”
Natrona County Chief Deputy District Attorney Blaine Nelson argued that additional charges may be coming and that Smith has admitted when he “sees red, the defendant starts fires.”
Johnson declined the request to lower the bond.
Initially charged in early September with starting three fires in May of this year, the charges against Smith now include incidents in July and August as well, according to court records.
Motel Fire
Court documents show Smith is charged with first-degree arson for allegedly starting a fire on May 19 at a building belonging to the Red and White Cafe in the 1600 block of E. Yellowstone Highway, and a fire at the Yellowstone Motel at 1600 E. Yellowstone Highway on July 3.
The third-degree arson charge involves a fire set along a fence in the 800 block of North Washington Street on Aug. 26.
The fourth-degree arson charges involved his alleged efforts to start fires in alleys and open areas. Charges stem from six dates where Smith allegedly ignited fires.
The Casper Police Department reported publicly that they suspected an arsonist in the city after six fires broke out in a 12-hour period from July 2 - July 3.
A police affidavit states that an anonymous caller left a message with the Casper Fire Department on May 16 that the Red and White Cafe had electrical issues and there was grease buildup on the stove in the former restaurant and fire hazards in a garage behind it.
On May 19, the fire department was dispatched to a structure fire at the building behind the Red and White Cafe that appeared to have been used by homeless people. No cause was determined.
On July 3, the Casper Fire Department responded to six different fires, and at 2:15 a.m. were called to the 1600 block of E. Yellowstone Highway and the Yellowstone Motel for a structure fire.
Four rooms in the north section of the motel were occupied, and residents had been told to evacuate. Firefighters found a small fire on the northwest corner of the building beneath a power breaker box.
“A charred pile of unknown cloth material that appeared to have been intentionally built and subsequently lit with a competent ignition source” was discovered, the affidavit states.
Fire Hazard Talk
During police contact with Smith on July 3, Smith spoke of fire hazards at the Yellowstone Motel and the Red and White Cafe as well as concerns about potential fire issues in the building behind the Red and White Cafe, just as the anonymous caller had in May, the affidavit states.
Smith referred to the owner and manager of the Yellowstone Motel as “slumlords” and that they were “bigoted” and took advantage of residents who lived there.
The affidavit states investigators found video footage with Smith, linking him to the area around the motel in the early morning hours of the fire.
After fires on Aug. 29, Smith was again questioned by police and admitted to starting two fires on that date, stating “dry leaves do a lot.”
When asked about other fires that had occurred over the summer, Smith told police about starting a fire on July 1 in the 1000 block of St. John Street, admitted starting the fire in the garage behind the Red and White Cafe in May, but when asked about the fire at the Yellowstone Motel denied it, even though he was informed they had video footage of him in the area.
“How many more fires are you going to ask me about because I told you I’m responsible,” he told police according to the affidavit.
Every time he has to pay rent at the Yellowstone Motel, he gets angry, because his landlord insulted him and then he would light fires, he told police.
“Smith did not know how to deal with his emotions around the time he had to go to the Yellowstone Motel to pay the property manager rent and wanted counseling for his problem and didn’t know where to look,” the affidavit states he told police.
Smith told police about “his displeasure” with the motel over seven years and that he started the fire with a red blouse he found on a nearby fence and piled trash on top, which was the result of “anger.” He told police he becomes “on edge” when talking about the motel.
The affidavit also states that he started a fire in the 800 block of N. Washington Street on Aug. 26 to “burn the pain.”
An additional interview on Sept. 2, with police led Smith to admit to all the fires that occurred on July 3, the affidavit states.
Dale Killingbeck can be reached at dale@cowboystatedaily.com.
