Alleged Arsonist Pleads Not Guilty

A Bemidji man who allegedly set his deceased mother’s mobile home on fire, has plead not guilty. Michael James Durant, 33, plead not guilty on Monday, to the charge of first-degree arson, according to the Bemidji Pioneer.

A female relative and her boyfriend had found the fire inside the mobile home on September 29th. The boyfriend quickly put out the fire and located Durant outside the mobile home.

Upon arrival, Durant told the deputies that he had been upset and that the fire had been intentional, according to the Bemidji Pioneer.

Durant was released from jail on October 31st, and is expected to appear in court January 3rd, for a pretrial hearing.