The man accused of starting the Holy fire refused to leave his jail cell for his first scheduled court appearance Thursday.
Forrest Gordon Clark, 51, whose cabin is the only one left standing in Holy Jim Canyon, was charged with six felonies including arson of inhabited property, criminal threats and resisting an officer. If convicted of all his charges, Clark could face life in prison.
An Orange County Superior Court commissioner postponed the arraignment until Friday.
The Holy fire has already burned more than 9,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties.
Clark has had many run-ins with his neighbors who say they are not surprised it was Clark who was suspected of starting the fire.
One neighbor whose cabin was reduced to ash, Pete Anderson said,
“The courts will decide if he started the fire,” Anderson said. “But it was clear at times that he needed help.”
Orange County Fire Authority officials held a news conference Wednesday saying their "strongest evidence is witness statements" however they mentioned finding physical evidence in Clark's cabin.
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