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A 31-year-old man was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon on one count of first-degree arson.
(Aimee Green/The Oregonian)
A 31-year-old man accused of setting fires at his Gresham home to try to kick out some tenants after a rent dispute was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tuesday afternoon.
David Gillette, 31
David Gillette was arrested Friday morning, accused of first-degree arson.
He's accused of setting a fire at home and shop in the 16900 block of Southeast Foster Road, where he was living, according to Gresham and Portland fire officials and court reports.
Gillette is accused of setting numerous fires to the side of his home "attempting to evict tenants,'' according to a Multnomah County deputy's report filed in court.
When Deputy David Jackson arrived, he found Gillete in a garage area with a blow torch, Multnomah County deputy district attorney Nathan Vasquez wrote in a probable cause affidavit filed in court.
The deputy learned that Gillette had been seen lighting the side of the home on fire, and found the second floor filled with smoke, the affidavit said.
No one was injured.
Gillette is being held in Multnomah County Detention Center on $250,000 bail.
--Maxine Bernstein
mbernstein@oregonian.com
503-221-8212; @maxoregonian