Arson suspect accused of starting 18,000-acre Larch Creek Fire arrested in Jefferson County, released on bail
(Update: Arson suspect arrested, posts bail, also sentenced in 2019 Deschutes County case)
MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) – Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Wasco County fugitive on a warrant for failing to appear in court on an arson charge, accused of starting the Larch Creek Fire that burned more than 18,000 acres in July. He later was released after posting bail.
Christopher Mennealy, 51, was taken into custody without incident on Wednesday and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on $20,000 bail, the Wasco County district attorney and sheriff’s office announced Thursday in a joint statement.
“Thank you to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the matter,” they said.
Wasco County DA Matthew Ellis told NewsChannel 21 he later learned that Mennealy was released after posting 10 percent bail, $2,000.
Meanwhile, Deschutes County court records show Mennealy appeared in court in Bend Thursday after entering a guilty plea last week to an unrelated 2019 charge of attempting to elude a police officer, a Class A misdemeanor.
Under a previously reached plea agreement, Circuit Judge Raymond Crutchley imposed a two-day jail sentence, which was already served, and a 90-day suspension of his driver's license.
A hearing date had not been set as of Friday in the Wasco County arson case, court records show.
A grand jury indicted Mennealy on Sept. 4 on the second-degree arson charge, a Class C felony, and reckless burning, a Class A misdemeanor, for starting a fire while squatting on another man’s property near the town of Friend, Ellis said. The reckless burning charge accuses him of damaging several owners’ properties by starting the fire, according to the indictment.
Within 10 days, the Larch Creek Fire burned more than 18,000 acres, threatening structures and prompting evacuations, and the firefighting cost topped $14 million.
Mennealy was scheduled to appear for arraignment on Monday morning but failed to do so, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, Ellis said.
Deschutes County court records showed Mennealy entered an amended plea of guilty last Friday to a 2019 charge of fleeing or attempting elude a police officer in October of that year. He signed a plea petition on August 15th, and sentencing on the Class A misdemeanor was held Thursday, as scheduled.
Deschutes County DA Steve Gunnels explained earlier that Mennealy failed to appear for court in 2021 on the elude incident and was sought on a warrant until he was detained July 9 by Wasco County deputies. He was released and appeared by phone for his earlier Deschutes County court hearings.
