Ashylnd Simper makes an appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon in Chehalis.
Ashylnd Simper makes an appearance in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon in Chehalis.
Defense Attorney Rachael Tiller, left, talks to Ashylnd Simper, right in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon in Chehalis.
Emergency crews attempt to contain a structure fire while an employee of Lewis County Public Utility District climbs a wooden light pole to shut off electricity to live wires strung across the ground around the property in the 100 Block of Rogers road Monday night in Chehalis.
Emergency crews attempt to contain a structure fire in the 100 block of Rogers road Monday night in Chehalis.
Emergency crews attempt to contain a structure fire in the 100 block of Rogers road Monday night in Chehalis.
An employee of Lewis County Public Utility District checks an electrical meter box during a structure fire in the 100 Block of Rogers road Monday night in Chehalis.
Authorities say a Napavine man intentionally started a fire that devastated a vacant house in rural Chehalis Saturday evening; the man was arrested that same day and charged with first-degree arson.
Ashlynd Alexander Valentino Simper, 30, is being held in the Lewis County Jail on $250,000 bail.
According to a probable cause affidavit, deputies responded to the burning house in the 100 block of Rogers Road and made contact with Simper, who was standing with his two children near a pickup truck by the burning house.
In subsequent interviews, deputies say one of the children said Simper brought them to the vacant house to show them around. Simper was allowed to stay in a shop on the property, according to the property owner.
When he was in the house, the child said, Simper lit a book of matches and threw them into a cardboard box on the floor. He then allegedly added more cardboard to the fledgling fire. The windows broke as the house grew hotter, documents read.
A press release from the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office indicates Simper took the two kids out of the house, and put them in a truck, and then returned to the burning house for an additional 10 to 15 minutes before exiting again.
“Simper told deputies he lit the fire intentionally to end his own life,” reads the press release.
A charge of reckless endangerment has also been referred to the prosecutor’s office.
During a hearing in Lewis County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon, Deputy Prosecutor Silvia Irimescu requested $250,000 bail. While she noted Simper has no criminal history, she said the allegations were enough to warrant a harsh bail.
“Things could have turned out even worse,” Irimescu said.
Simper reserved his right to argue for a lesser amount.
He has an arraignment hearing on Thursday.
According to Lewis County Fire District 6 public information officer DJ Hammer, crews first responded to the fire at around 6:50 p.m. Saturday. The house was fully engulfed and part of the roof had collapsed. Hammer said crews worked to make sure the fire was contained to the house — which was unlikely to be saved — and away from the nearby shop and trees. They were on scene until around 12:30 a.m. Sunday.
Nobody was injured, and the house was completely destroyed. A sheriff’s office press release estimates damage to the tune of $71,300.
