Park Fire: Two years later, trial set for man accused of starting California’s 4th largest wildfire

OROVILLE — After nearly two years of delays, the trial of the man charged with causing a destructive fire in 2024 will begin later this month.

The case of Ronnie Dean Stout II will be heard starting July 20, just four days short of the two-year anniversary of the ignition of the Park Fire in 2024.

RELATED: DA: Arson suspect reportedly ‘heavily intoxicated’ before Park Fire ignition

The wildfire ultimately burned 430,000 acres, destroying 700 structures, including much of Cohasset as well as homes in Forest Ranch.

Stout allegedly bushed a burning car into a brush-filled ravine in upper Bidwell Park on July 24, 2024, which triggered the blaze.

He was arrested early in the morning following the fire, and has been in custody ever since.

But court proceedings have been delayed nine times at the request of the defense. Trial dates had been set twice before, but then cancelled.

But Thursday when Judge Kristen Lucena asked the prosecution and defense if they would be ready to go on July 20, both said yes.

There is some question about how long the trial will last. Lucena said the dates of July 20, 21, 24, 27 and 28 were available. Public Defender Nicole Diamond said she didn’t think it would take that long. Prosecutor Marc Noel said he could present the state’s case with “two witnesses or 40 witnesses.”

Both sides will meet to agree to “stipulations” which will determine how many witnesses will be necessary, which will determine how long the trial will run.

Outside of court Noel explained the stipulations could cover things like the Highway Patrol’s analysis of the burnt car. If the defense agrees to stipulate that the written report is acceptable as evidence, it won’t be necessary to call a CHP investigator up from Sacramento to take the stand.

The fact Lucena will be deciding the case makes things simpler, he said. Stout earlier waived his right to a jury trial, leaving the decisions in the judge’s hands. “A jury trial takes lots of witnesses,” Noel said.

Stout is charged with intentional arson, which counts as a “strike” under California’s three-strikes law. He already has two prior strikes, so a third conviction would result in a term of 25-years-to-life in state prison.

However Stout maintains he didn’t push the car into the ravine. If so, he could still be convicted of reckless arson. That would not ordinarily be a strike, but one of Stout’s prior strikes is a so-called “super strike” the 25-to-life sentence would still apply.

In July 2024 District Attorney Mike Ramsey said witnesses had seen Stout drinking at the Bear Hole in upper Bidwell Park on the afternoon of July 24, 2024. He was reported to have been highly intoxicated when he sped off toward town on Upper Park Road.

Ramsey said the car went off the gravel road about a half-mile later, near the Alligator Hole. The car became high-centered, and Stout’s efforts to free the vehicle caught the grass underneath it on fire. The fire subsequently spread to the car.

A witness then reportedly saw Stout push the car into a brushy ravine, triggering the larger fire. Stout denies pushing the car into the ravine.

Noel said with a judge rather than a jury, the trial can focus on the legal issues. “Here the issue is, how did he cause it?”