PROVO — A man charged with three felony arson charges has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
David G. Ricks, 19, Orem, appeared at a preliminary hearing Friday in 4th District Court. He is charged with three counts of arson; two are second-degree felonies, and the other is a third-degree felony.
He is being held in the Utah County Jail on $50,000 cash-only bail. Judge Gary Stott scheduled a May 11 review hearing to look at evidence gathered during mental evaluations.
Ricks will remain in the Utah County Jail. Stott said Ricks may be taken by police to the Utah State Hospital for evaluation if necessary.
Provo police say Ricks admitted after his Jan. 24 arrest he was responsible for at least nine fires in Utah County that caused more than $500,000 in damage. He also is suspected of igniting several fires in Salt Lake County.
Investigators say Ricks lit the blazes, then called 911 to report the fires. He reportedly remained at the scene to watch the firefighters douse the flames.