LAKEPORT >> Damin Pashilk, the alleged arsonist suspected of starting the Clayton Fire, had 21 total charges brought before him at his arraignment on Wednesday.
Read to him by Judge Andrew Blum, the charges consisted of 17 counts of arson (including two special allegations), one count for possession of methamphetamine, two counts of driving with a suspended license and another for destroying evidence. The arson-related accusations spanned a whole year — the earliest being from July 2, 2015.
Pashilk, a 40 —year-old resident from Clearlake, appeared sluggish when he was escorted into the courtroom, doing his best to hide his face from the press. When Justice Blum asked him if he heard the charges, he gave a nearly inaudible response.
A similar action occurred when he acknowledged his rights, giving a simple head nod.
His attorney, J. David Markham, said he was told that his client passed out before he entered the courtroom. Officials gave no further details to the swarm of media outside the Lake County Courthouse, especially on the relationship between the defendant and the moderately loud thud heard from the adjacent chambers before the proceeding began.
Information, however, was released about Pashilk’s time as a prisoner firefighter.
According to Cal Fire Public Information Officer Scott McLean, he spent two months in training while in prison for a drug-related conviction in 2007 but was granted parole shortly after, so he never made it on the frontlines in a crew.
Prosecuting attorney Richard Hinchcliff said he did not believe the experience to be part of Pashilk’s motive.
“There are lots of serial arsonists that have no firefighter training,” he added. “It may have given him some knowledge about fire behavior or something… we’re going to investigate that, but at this point in time we don’t have any reason to necessarily believe that’s why he’s lighting fires.”
Further details on the motive and the evidence obtained by the prosecution weren’t released by Hinchcliff, who was also joined by Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin and District Attorney Don Anderson.
The former gave some insight into the defendant’s arrest, saying that he was apprehended during a traffic stop and did not resist arrest.
Martin also explained, albeit not very specifically, the reason it took so long for Cal Fire investigators and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to make it. The sheriff implied they were waiting for a positive identification and evidence sufficient for probable cause
“He was not allowed to continue,” he said, acknowledging accusations of law enforcement letting Pashilk walk the streets. “You get one shot at this. If you take your shot too soon, you jeopardize bringing someone to justice who truly needs to be brought to justice.”
Markham declined to enter a plea for his client. That hearing is scheduled at 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 7 in Department 4 of the Lake County Courthouse.
Pashilk’s bail was set at $5 million. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of 25 to 30 years to life in prison, Hinchcliff said.
Clayton Fire Update
Meanwhile, firefighting crews continue to make progress on the Lower Lake blaze. As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was at 3,929 acres and 50 percent contained.
“It’s looking pretty good,” McLean said, noting that damage assessment teams. “The forward progress has stopped.”
Now, damage assessment teams are going through the destroyed structures — currently totaled at 269 — to make sure the fires there are completely out so embers don’t escape across the fire line.
Also returning to evacuation zones are those residents who live in the Spruce Grove Road Area. Their evacuation order was lifted around 4 p.m.
For immigrants who lost their passports and consular IDs in the fire, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco will reissue the documents at Twin Pine Casino today in Middletown from noon to 5 p.m. People are instructed to bring as many documents — birth certificates, matrículas, bills, school documents with photo, etc. — as possible to prove identity, the Lake County Sheriff’s office said.
