Arson suspect pleads not guilty to all charges

A Hanford man connected with a string of arson-related fires pleaded not guilty to all charges in court Friday afternoon.

Gregory Anthony Jones, 31, pleaded not guilty to 15 felony counts of vehicle arson, one count of residential arson, and one count of attempted arson. In addition, Jones pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of possession of stolen property, one count of burglary, one count of attempted burglary, and one count of possession of methamphetamine.

The suspect, who worked at the commissary at Lemoore Naval Air Station and has one child, remains in custody on $2.04 million bail.

It is not yet immediately clear to investigators just what motivations Jones may have had for allegedly setting the fires, but they said it's possible the suspect may have committed arson in an attempt to destroy evidence from other crimes.

"We can't eliminate the possibility that he committed the arson to cover up a crime," said Hanford Police Lt. Darrell Smith. "We're not real sure what his motives for the arsons were. That's something we can't assume based on the evidence we have right now."

Eric Hickey, a criminologist at California State University, Fresno, and the Director of Forensic Student at Alliant International University, said people commit arson for various reasons, including revenge, but covering up other crimes is one of the most common.

"It's just a kind of quick and dirty way to get rid of that evidence," said Hickey.

Financial gain and insurance fraud also top the list.

The rarest group of arsonists are the true pyromaniacs, who gain pleasure and sexual gratification by setting blazes.

"It's about control and about power," Hickey said of pyromaniacs, who are often victims of severe abuse and deprivation as children.

Beginning in mid-December, Hanford was plagued with at least 18 vehicle fires and three structure fires of suspicious origins.

Although authorities originally termed the fires suspicious, they are now calling the fires Jones is charged with arson.

"You can't always get somebody right off the bat," said Kings County Assistant Fire Chief Mike Virden who did not work on the investigation but has 20 years of experience in fire investigation. "(Arson) is harder to prove as a crime than murder."

Unlike with a murder, most, if not all, trace evidence can get destroyed in an arson, which means investigators must have other proof placing a suspect at the scene of the crime, a condition necessary for conviction.

The rash of vehicle fires, which Hanford Fire Capt. Frank Etulain estimated cost a combined total of $102,550, began Dec. 12

The most recent vehicle fire - which resulted in Jones' arrest - took place Thursday at 5:05 a.m. on the 900 block of Leslie Lane.

While responding to the scene, Hanford Police Officer Justin Vallin reportedly spotted Jones' vehicle in the vicinity. Jones' vehicle happened to match the description of a vehicle in various witness reports.

Vallin reportedly then pulled Jones over for a routine traffic violation, a move which led to the suspect's arrest.

The first residential fire broke out Dec. 19 in a historic home located on West Lacey Boulevard, directly across the street from the Heritage Senior Living Center. The elegant two-story house, once owned by the prominent Bloyd family, stood empty for four years, and had become a target for vandals and vagrants in recent years. In a twist of irony, firefighters were planning on burning the home in a training exercise.

Just two days later, a man became temporarily homeless when his Rodgers Road duplex was gutted by fire. The man renting the duplex was not home when the fire occurred around noon.

On Dec. 30, another fire destroyed an abandoned house on Kimball Lane.

The three fires cost an estimated total of $391,000 in damages.

Authorities have only charged Jones with the Rodgers Road fire, but the investigation is still ongoing, and officials say more charges may follow.

A search of Jones' home uncovered stolen property, and half a gram of methamphetamine.

(The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3062)

(Jan. 20, 2007)