A man accused of destroying an RV with explosive fireworks on a vacant Winlock property last year is now facing a reckless burning charge in Lewis County Superior Court.
The charge was filed Jan. 24 and stems from an incident that occurred on Dec. 1, 2022.
Fire personnel and a deputy with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a vehicle fire at 1346 Winlock Vader Road, with the deputy arriving at the scene at about 6:35 p.m., according to court documents.
The deputy found “what appeared to be a RV or a trailer completely engulfed in flames” inside a fenced pasture area next to two other vehicles, according to court documents. As the deputy stopped at a locked gate and got out of his vehicle, he reportedly saw a man unlocking the chain wrapped around the gate.
The man was later identified as the defendant, Stratton T. Bagley, 27, of Toledo.
When the deputy asked him what had happened, Bagley allegedly “nonchalantly stated he threw an ‘M-80’ inside the RV.”
M-80s, also called salutes, are a class of explosive firecrackers that require a federally-issued explosives license to buy or use.
When questioned further, Bagley allegedly “calmly admitted he had found an M-80 and threw it into the RV,” according to court documents.
The deputy reportedly asked Bagley why he would do that, to which Bagley reportedly said, “Why not?” Bagley reportedly explained “that the RV was unoccupied and vacant” and that “he checked for cats before throwing in the explosive.”
Bagley “briefly mentioned there was a horse in the fenced area” around the burning RV, according to court documents.
Bagley reportedly confirmed that he did live at the Winlock property and did not own the RV, “but was going to ‘fix it up,’” according to court documents.
“The deputy clarified with Bagley that he threw an explosive firework into a trailer, which he did not own, for no reason and the defendant reportedly agreed with those statements,” according to court documents.
Later, Bagley allegedly told law enforcement that he started the fire “to keep the horse warm,” according to court documents.
The RV itself was a complete loss. Court documents do not indicate whether the other two vehicles were damaged or if the horse sustained any injuries from the fire.
The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office charged Bagley with first-degree reckless burning, which is a class C felony carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison, on Jan. 24.
Bagley was issued a summons notice on Jan. 27 ahead of a mandatory Feb. 14 preliminary hearing, which he was present for.
A judge ruled to set Bagley’s bail at $10,000 unsecured, meaning he can remain out of custody without posting bail so long as he is present in court for mandatory hearings and follows his conditions of release.
Bagley’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 23.
