LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Clearlake man who authorities say started the Clayton fire and 15 other blazes around Lake County was in court on Tuesday for the setting of his preliminary hearing, which will take place next year.
Damin Anthony Pashilk, 40, made the brief appearance in Lake County Superior Court.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff, who is handling the case, said Pashilk's preliminary hearing has been set for April 26.
Hinchcliff said the hearing was scheduled that far out for reasons including the need for the District Attorney's Office to continue working on the followup investigation that's part of building the case against Pashilk.
Pashilk was arrested Aug. 15 for setting a total of 16 fires in and around Clearlake, Clearlake Oaks, Lower Lake and Middletown beginning in July of 2015 and continuing through August, when authorities say he started the Clayton fire two days before his arrest.
The Clayton fire burned approximately 3,929 acres and destroyed nearly 300 structures, of which about 200 were homes. The impact on the Lower Lake community included $1 million in damage to the Konocti Unified School District's facilities.
Pashilk also is accused of attempting to set a 17th fire that self-extinguished Aug. 9 near Lower Lake, not far from where the Clayton fire began.
Altogether, he's facing 23 charges, including 19 felony arson counts with special allegations of causing multiple structures to burn and committing a crime in a disaster area, as well as misdemeanors of methamphetamine possession at the time of his arrest, attempting to conceal the evidence of the methamphetamine, and two counts of driving on a suspended license with three prior convictions for that charge.
He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges at a court appearance in early September, as Lake County News has reported.
Pashilk remains in the Lake County Jail, with his bail set at $5 million.
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