Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: Charges are now filed against 40-year-old John C. Siegel, the man arrested Tuesday night in connection with the fire that investigators say was set that morning at the Gatewood home he co-owns. The charges are 1st-degree arson/domestic violence and domestic violence/violation of a court order. Siegel remains in jail, awaiting arraignment on July 14th; he was arrested after being treated at Harborview Medical Center for a wrist injury that has been described as self-inflicted. Prosecutors have asked that his bail be set at $1 million. More after the jump:
Today’s charging documents contain the same information reported here on Wednesday – that Siegel was found outside the house while the fire burned, and said he had awakened to find the fire raging, though investigators say it was the type of fire that, if that were true, should have left him burned – but he wasn’t. They say it was set at the foot of a bed, with open flame held to combustible materials.
Requesting the million-dollar bail amount, prosecutors write, “The defendant poses a clear danger to the victim, the community, and to himself. The defendant’s suicide (attempt) is of particular concern, as it shows his level of desperation and makes it more likely that he will harm the victim.” The document then goes into the backstory surrounding the previous domestic-violence charges involving the victim and his ex-wife – mentioned in our original report on his Tuesday night arrest – as well as the harassment case resulting from his threat to kill a judge involved in a prior case involving them. Siegel had told police on Tuesday that he was homeless and that his ex-wife was allowing him to stay at the Gatewood home, for which they both are still listed on county records as co-owners.(Tuesday photo, courtesy Kathryn)
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