A Santa Cruz County Superior Court has ruled that Marlon Coy, accused of starting the 2017 Bear Fire in the Santa Cruz Mountains, shall face 11 felony charges including arson and carjacking.
The 56-year-old Coy has been in custody since the fire broke out on October 16, 2017. It then took a week to be brought under control.
Coy faces charges including arson of a non-dwelling, arson causing bodily injury, felon in possession of a firearm and exhibiting a firearm. Court documents describe special circumstances including that Coy committed the crimes while causing great bodily injury against multiple people, emergency workers and set fire to multiple buildings.
Three days of preliminary examination — the first time evidence was presented in the case — took place last week. No trial date has been set. Coy remains in custody.
