Kelsey T. Rasmussen, in red, is shown to his seat in Lewis County Superior Court
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – He’s charged with knowingly starting a fire in his own home, the top level of a Centralia duplex.
At first he said he was playing with hand sanitizer that caught fire and he got scared so he left.
But then he admitted to a police detective he started the fire because he was mad he was getting evicted with no reason given on the notice, according to prosecutors.
The 19-year-old Centralia man has no criminal history, but was charged yesterday in Lewis County Superior Court with first-degree arson, a felony with a maximum penalty of life in prison. It’s also a strike offense.
Kelsey T. Rasmussen was brought before a judge yesterday afternoon where his bail was set at $50,000.
Temporary defense attorney Rachael Tiller told the judge Rasmussen has no income, at this time, and Judge Andrew Toynbee appointed Centralia lawyer Don Blair to represent him.
Centralia police say they found Rasmussen a short distance away waiting for a taxi as firefighters and police converged around 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the 1200 block of Windsor Avenue where smoke was rising from the roof vents and the second-story windows were blackened.
The first-floor unit was occupied at the time but everyone was able to get out safely without injury, according to authorities. A woman who lived on the ground floor described her upstairs neighbor as the tall, skinny kid with glasses that usually wore a black hoody.
The fire was extinguished, but it caused heavy damage to the upper level of the house which had been converted to a duplex, according to Riverside Fire Authority.
A fire captain told police there was a can of shaving cream in the middle of the bed, which looked like where the fire began, according to charging documents.
The captain said the smoke detectors were found outside sitting on the railing on the porch.
Rasmussen’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
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For background, read “Resident of Centralia duplex arrested following fire there” from Thursday August 17, 2017, here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter