Park Fire Arson Suspect Faces Life in PrisonPark Fire Arson Suspect Faces Life in Prison Ronnie Dean Stout II, accused of starting the devastating Park Fire, appeared in Butte County court Monday. Judge Kristen Lucena denied bail, potentially sentencing him to life in prison. Stout faces charges of arson of an inhabited structure or property and special allegations due to his prior criminal history, including violent offenses. Prosecutors allege that his third-strike charge could result in 25 years to life in prison. Stout pleaded not guilty but claimed he accidentally ignited the fire while trying to free his stuck vehicle. Witnesses, however, claim to have seen Stout push the car over an embankment, resulting in the blaze. Stout allegedly left the scene after the fire broke out, dismissed by prosecutors as an invalid excuse. The fire spread rapidly, burning nearly 400,000 acres and destroying 109 buildings as of Monday. Additional charges could be filed against Stout if injuries or deaths result from the wildfire. Ramsey, the District Attorney, stated that Stout had been drinking prior to the incident. Witnesses reported observing Stout starting the fire under his Toyota Yaris while attempting to free it from a rock. Stout reportedly did not attempt to extinguish the flames and instead pushed the burning car over the embankment, igniting surrounding vegetation. After the fire started, Stout allegedly walked away without alerting nearby swimmers. He was arrested the next day at his mother’s residence. Stout has a history of convictions, including child molestation and theft. He was released from prison in 2020 but has since been convicted of driving under the influence. Stout is scheduled to reappear in court on Thursday for a further arraignment.
The man accused of starting the 374,000-acre Park Fire made his first appearance in Butte County court Monday. After a judge denied him bail, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Citing the seriousness of the crime and the suspect’s criminal history, Judge Kristen Lucena denied bail for Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, of Chico.
During Stout’s arraignment in Oroville, Lucena read aloud a statement describing the events that unfolded on Wednesday, July 24, that led to the Park Fire in Upper Bidwell Park and the blaze that burned nearly 400,000 acres in two days.
Stout has been charged with one count of arson of an inhabited structure or property and several special allegations, including the third-strike charge, since he has prior serious crimes, including convictions for violent crimes. On those charges, Stout could face 25 years to life in prison, Ramsey said.
Stout did not enter a plea Monday, but U.S. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said Stout claimed he accidentally started the fire. His vehicle got stuck on a rock and he started the fire while trying to free it, Ramsey said.
Witnesses told arson investigators that Stout pushed the car over an embankment and down a 60-foot hill toward Big Chico Creek, near a swimming area in Upper Bidwell Park called the Alligator Hole, Ramsey said.
Stout told investigators he left because he was scared after the fire broke out, Ramsey said. But it was a claim the DA’s office dismissed Monday.
“At this point, the evidence is more heavily weighted on the witness, who had no reason to say and describe in detail how he (Stout) pushed that car into the ditch. He saw the car plunge into the ditch and then go up in flames, which of course caused this monster that’s called the Park Fire,” Ramsey said at a news conference after the hearing.
After igniting, the fire raced north through Butte and Tehama County and east into Plumas County. Several communities and thousands of residents were evacuated as the flames burned 109 buildings as of Monday.
No serious injuries have been reported from the fire. But Ramsey said if there are injuries or deaths as a result of the wildfire, additional charges could be filed against Stout.
Witnesses told detectives that Stout had been drinking before the incident last Wednesday, Ramsey said.
Shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, Stout allegedly drove his car, a 2007 Toyota Yaris, to a parking lot near the creek and somehow got the vehicle stuck on a rock, Ramsey said. He said Stout was trying to free his car from the rock when he started a fire underneath the car.
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The car was stuck in an area of tall, dry grass, which caught fire when Stout revved the engine and tried to free the vehicle from the rock, the prosecutor said. After the fire was ignited, witnesses told investigators that Stout saw the fire growing, Ramsey said.
“The witness did not observe any attempt by the defendant to extinguish the fire. The witness observed the defendant enter the driver’s side of the vehicle, then exit and walk around the rear of the vehicle to the passenger side of the vehicle. The witness then observed the defendant physically push the burning vehicle off the road and over the side of a 60-foot embankment,” Ramsey said in a statement prepared for the court.
When the car hit the bottom of the ravine, “the witness saw the dry vegetation surrounding the vehicle engulfed in flames,” Ramsey said in a statement to the court.
According to Ramsey, Stout calmly walked away after the fire and did not warn others swimming in the creek.
Stout was arrested the next day at 2 a.m. at his mother’s home, where he lived. The car that was destroyed in the fire also belonged to Stout’s mother, Ramsey said.
As the hearing concluded Monday, a woman said from the public gallery, “We support you, Ronnie!” Ramsey said he did not know who the woman was.
Stout has prior convictions for crimes including child molestation and theft. He was released from prison in 2020 and since his release has also been convicted of driving under the influence, Ramsey said.
Stout is due back in court on Thursday for a further summons.
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at [email protected] and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RSHelp local journalism grow by subscribing today!
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