Arson suspect accused of starting 18,000-acre Larch Creek Fire fails to appear in Wasco County court; arrest warrant issued
THE DALLES, Ore. (KTVZ) – An arrest warrant has been issued for a man who failed to appear in Wasco County Circuit Court on Monday to face arson and reckless burning charges, accused of igniting the more than 18,000-acre Larch Creek Fire while squatting on private property in July.
A grand jury indicted Christopher Mennealy, 51, on Sept. 4 on charges of second-degree arson, 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, District Attorney Matthew 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.
Court records also show Mennealy entered an amended plea of guilty last Friday in Deschutes County Circuit Court 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 set for this Thursday.
Deschutes County DA Steve Gunnels explained 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 has appeared by phone for his Deschutes County court dates.
