{"id":2184,"date":"2012-11-06T10:00:32","date_gmt":"2012-11-06T16:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/?p=2184"},"modified":"2012-11-06T10:01:50","modified_gmt":"2012-11-06T16:01:50","slug":"lone-steer-motel-destroyed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/csinewsnow.com\/?p=2184","title":{"rendered":"Texas Man Pleads Not Guilty To Setting Lone Steer Motel Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Photo by Corey Bayer<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0STEELE, N.D. (AP) – A Texas man has pleaded not guilty to burning down a motel in North Dakota and putting people’s lives in danger.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fifty-one-year-old Allen Thomas is charged with one count of arson and 18 counts of endangering by fire.<\/p>\n

All of the felony charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison upon conviction.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Houston man was staying at the Lone Steer Motel in Steele at
\nthe time of the Aug. 12 fire, which didn’t hurt anyone but
\ndisplaced about two dozen people.<\/p>\n

Authorities allege that Thomas used a cigarette lighter to ignite a mattress because he was upset that the hotel owners had helped his girlfriend after the two had argued.<\/p>\n

————————————————-<\/p>\n

Previously…<\/p>\n

Texas Man Faces 19 Felony Charges, Lone Steer Motel Fire<\/p>\n

STEELE, N.D. (AP) \u2013 A Texas man accused of burning down a hotel
\nin North Dakota now faces 19 felony charges.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fifty-year-old Allen Thomas was charged earlier with arson in the Aug. 12 fire at the Lone Steer Motel in Steele.<\/p>\n

The Houston man now also faces 18 counts of endangering by fire or explosion.<\/p>\n

All of the charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison upon
\nconviction.
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No one was hurt in the fire but about two dozen people were
\ndisplaced.<\/p>\n

Authorities have said little about why Thomas is believed to have started the blaze.
\n\u00a0Thomas made his initial court appearance on the new charges Monday. He was given an application for a public defender.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Previously….<\/p>\n

\u00a0BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A 50-year-old Texas man has been charged with setting the fire that destroyed the Lone Steer Motel in Steele.
\nAllen Thomas could spend up to 10 years in prison if he’s convicted on the arson charge.
\nThomas is from Houston. \u00a0<\/p>\n

He’s being held in the McLean County jail in Washburn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Alan Thomas<\/p><\/div>\n

A district court judge has set bond at $1 million cash for\u00a0Thomas.<\/p>\n

The Bismarck Tribune reports\u00a0 that\u00a0 Thomas appeared Wednesday via interactive television from the McLean County Courthouse.<\/p>\n

The hearing was held at the Burleigh County Courthouse.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0Steele Police Chief David Feland says Thomas is being held in
\nMcLean County because the jails in nearby Burleigh and Morton
\ncounties were both full.<\/p>\n

State authorities and the federal Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the Sunday morning fire.<\/p>\n

The federal agency estimates the damage at $1.5 million.<\/p>\n

No one was reported injured. The fire displaced about two dozen
\npeople.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0Reported earlier….<\/p>\n

STEELE, N.D. (AP) \u2014 A 50-year-old man was arrested Monday (Aug 13, 2012) \u00a0on suspicion of starting a weekend fire that destroyed a popular motel in the North Dakota town of Steele.<\/p>\n

The man had not been charged as of late Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n

The Lone Steer Motel Restaurant and Lodge \u2014 located just off Interstate 94 about 40 miles east of Bismarck \u2014 burned to the ground Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

All of the two-dozen people in the building got out safely, though some had to exit second-floor windows, make a short drop to another roof and then jump into the bed of a pickup truck parked next to the motel,<\/p>\n

Most of the people staying there were with a construction crew working in the area.<\/p>\n

Police Chief David Feland says, \u201cEverybody\u2019s accounted for.<\/p>\n

Two investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called in, as were the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and state fire marshal.<\/p>\n

Steele firefighter Rob Dewitz told North Dakota Public Radio that the call came in about 8:45 a.m. and there was little that firefighters could do.<\/p>\n

He says, \u201cYou could see smoke coming out from the soffit, most of the way around the building.\u00a0 That tells us it\u2019s already in the attic, and it\u2019s pretty involved.”<\/p>\n

Red Cross officials helped people find other places to stay.<\/p>\n

The motel also housed a restaurant, casino and bar, and was a popular gathering spot for residents.<\/p>\n

Feland adds, of the motels destruction, \u201cIt ends an era in Steele.\u201d<\/p>\n

On scene photos by Cory Bayer<\/p>\n

\r\n\r\n\r\n