Arson Suspect Marries in Jail as Park Fire Trial Postponed to 2026
Ronnie Dean Stout II, a man from Chico, California, who is accused of igniting the Park Fire in Bidwell Park in July 2024, recently appeared before a Butte County judge. This appearance came ahead of what was originally scheduled to be his trial on March 30. However, the trial has been delayed until July, just days before the second anniversary of the fire’s start. In addition, KRCR has reported that Stout married while still in custody.
The Park Fire and Its Impact
The Park Fire stands as the fourth-largest wildfire in California’s history. It began after Stout allegedly drove a vehicle down an embankment on a day with red flag conditions, which are warnings for extreme fire danger. The fire burned for 64 days across Butte and Tehama Counties, causing widespread evacuations, property damage, and destroying nearly 430,000 acres of land.
During the court hearing, Stout’s attorney, Nicole Diamond, requested a postponement to allow more time for an expert to review the evidence. She claimed this process would take an additional eight to 12 weeks. However, Marc Noel, the Supervising Deputy District Attorney representing the Butte County District Attorney’s Office, opposed the request. He noted that the case had already been rescheduled once, moving the trial from November 2025 to March 30. The judge ultimately approved the new delay, pushing the trial to begin on July 20.
“We objected because we believe it has already taken too long. Why wasn’t this done earlier? We didn’t get a clear answer. We don’t know who this expert is or what they will say, and we think this is a delaying tactic,” said Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.
Noel also expressed concerns about the impact of the new trial date on witness availability. Cal Fire witnesses, who are typically busy during the summer due to increased wildfire activity, may struggle to adjust their schedules. Ramsey explained that the original trial date was chosen to ensure all witnesses could be available, but the new date raises uncertainty.
“There’s frustration over justice being delayed, but it also means that when witnesses are ready to testify, they now have to rearrange their schedules. We’re not sure if everyone will be available on July 20,” Ramsey said.
Marriage in Custody and Legal Implications
KRCR has also uncovered that Stout recently married while in jail. Ramsey stated that witnesses reported seeing Stout appear drunk and angry during a phone call with someone shortly after the fire started. Phone records confirmed that the person he was speaking to at the time was his then-girlfriend, now-wife.
Stout’s wife has been subpoenaed to testify in the case, but she is attempting to have the subpoena dismissed. If her request is granted, she would not be legally required to appear in court. However, Ramsey believes she will not succeed, as there are no legal grounds preventing her from testifying.
“Many people think that getting married after the crime might prevent her from testifying, but that’s not true. The law changed years ago to eliminate that exception. Legally, it means nothing,” Ramsey explained.
Trial Details and Potential Consequences
The trial readiness conference is set for July 9, with the three-day trial beginning on July 20. Stout faces potential charges that could lead to a sentence of 25 years to life. He has two prior felony strikes, and if convicted in this case, it would count as his third strike. In April 2025, Stout waived his right to a jury trial, meaning the case will be decided by a judge rather than a jury of 12 residents from Butte County.
