A Magna man accused of burning his house down has been acquitted of the aggravated arson charge filed against him.
A 3rd Circuit Court jury deliberated for five hours before deciding that Grady Lee Baker, 39, is not guilty of starting the fire that destroyed his home at 2729 S. 9150 West on Jan. 5 and caused $45,000 damage.Baker, who had been jailed since his arrest on Jan. 9, was released following the verdict.
"The jury felt there were other people with the motive and opportunity to commit the crime," said defense attorney Brooke Wells.
Salt Lake County Fire officials believe the fire was intentionally set because the blaze had several points of origin. Flammable liquids were spread throughout the house.
Prosecutors charged Baker with the first-degree felony and indicated Baker had told his sister-in-law several weeks earlier that he was going to burn the house down. The house was a point of dispute in his recent divorce settlement, and he apparently threatened that his ex-wife would not get her half of the equity.
Wells said that comment was flippantly made in the "heat of divorce." Both she and Salt Lake County deputy attorney Ernie Jones presented witnesses that described a lot of ill will that exists among family members.
For example, Wells said Baker deeded the house to his brother-in-law as a favor to him. But family members apparently tried to evict Baker at one point.
Baker was unemployed and experiencing financial problems. He had failed to pay utilities, and the gas in the house was shut off. But visitation rights to his children were apparently contingent on court orders that Baker had to have shelter and utilities. Efforts were allegedly made to prevent him from those visitation rights.
Prosecutors contended that Baker had left the house just minutes before the fire began. But the defense contended Baker had left about 40 minutes before the blaze broke out. Because the doors did not lock and the house had several broken windows, anyone with motives against Baker could have entered the home after he left and set it ablaze, Wells argued.
Baker's same home burned down six years ago. The fire was classified as suspicious, but there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges.