Man Pleads Not Guilty in Park Fire Case

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, has pleaded not guilty to charges of arson related to the Park Fire, which has burned over 429,000 acres in California, making it the fourth largest wildfire in the state's history. Stout allegedly started the fire by pushing a flaming car down an embankment while attempting to free it from a rock in Upper Bidwell Park. Prosecutors claim Stout was intoxicated and did not attempt to extinguish the fire or alert anyone before leaving the scene. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison due to prior 'Three Strikes' law convictions for serious crimes. Stout's next court appearance is scheduled for September 19, where a preliminary hearing date will be set. All evacuation orders related to the fire have been lifted as it is currently 61% contained.