A 37-year-old Elk City man is facing up to 35 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 following his arrest last month.
Joshua Scott Stovall was arrested by the Washita County Sheriff’s Office was arrested May 19 and charged with one felony count of second degree arson for “willfully and maliciously causing the setting fire to a farm house” located near Canute, according to the information filed in Washita County District Court.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Deputy Russell Stewart, he was dispatched to the structure fire roughly one mile south and a mile and a half east of Canute. Once on scene, Stewart met with the property owners, three brothers, who told him they had witnessed a man fleeing the scene in a black Chevrolet pickup. One of the witnesses attempted to follow the suspect, but lost contact with the truck somewhere in Canute.
One of the other brothers reported to Stewart that he had been in telephone contact with Stovall, who admitted to him that he had been mowing the yard by the farmhouse and “threw a spark” which ignited the fire. The brothers told Stovall that the house had metal siding so there was no way a spark could have caused the fire. At that point, Stovall reportedly apologized for lighting the blaze.
Stovall reportedly had a key to the property and permission to fish in the pond located on it, but did not have any permission to be near the farmhouse or operating a lawn mower.
Stewart contacted the Elk City Police Department and asked them to pick up and detain Stovall. Elk City Officer Denley located Stovall and took him into custody to allow Stewart to interview him about the fire. Stewart reported that Denley’s body camera picked up a “spontaneous utterance” from Stovall about burning the house down.
Based upon the two reported confessions, Stewart arrested Stovall for arson and booked him into the Washita County Jail.
If convicted of the crime, Stovall could be sentenced to a prison term of up to 35 years or a fine of up to $25,000, or both.