SANTA CRUZ >> Marlon Coy, the accused Bear Fire arsonist and looter, stared at District Attorney Jeff Rosell explaining the four felonies in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on Tuesday.”You’re next,” Coy said softly as he glared at Rosell.When told of Coy’s statement, the district attorney replied: “Bring it on.”During the brief proceeding, Coy pleaded not guilty to two charges of arson of a nondwelling, arson causing bodily injury and felon in possession of a firearm, according to court records. He also pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor exhibiting a firearm for reasons other than self-defense.Overall, Coy faces 11 felonies – including the arson charges – linked with an ongoing dispute at the secluded hillside property near 475 Diane’s Way and the 800 block of Bear Creek Canyon Road.Coy, 54, is accused of lighting the Bear Fire about 10:30 p.m. Oct. 16, Rosell said. The fire spread to timber land and scorched nearly 400 acres in about 10 days, according to information from Cal Fire. The fire was contained last week.Coy is a tall, balding man with a slight hunch and a thick mustache. He wore jail-issued, orange-and-white-striped shirt and pants during the hearing.When Superior Court Judge John Salazar asked Coy whether he understood the terms of his arraignment, the defendant responded in a loud, clear voice “I do.”LOOTING CASECoy has been in custody since his arrest the day after the fire broke out. He was arrested on suspicion of looting on charges of burglary, grand theft of more than $950 and grand theft during a state of emergency. For those charges, he could face up to six years in jail.Deputies received information that Coy was in Live Oak and authorities found him on Brommer Street in Santa Cruz on Oct. 17. Coy was wearing Lycra cycling gear and a backpack stuffed with $15,000 in jewelry while riding a mountain bike – all property stolen from a house on Hidden Springs Lane, according to the sheriff’s office. The painkiller Vicodin also was stolen from the home, according to court records.On Oct. 19, in a separate case, Coy pleaded not guilty to four felonies: two charges of assault with a semiautomatic weapon, carjacking and felon in possession of a firearm. In that case, Coy is accused of brandishing a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol to steal a vehicle on Sept. 28, according to court documents.On Oct. 16, Coy brandished a gun in a “rude, angry and threatening manner and did use a firearm in a fight and quarrel,” Rosell wrote in a complaint filed Monday.In a request seeking bail filed last week, Coy, who has ties to Oklahoma, is accused of trying to flee to that state before his arrest on Oct. 17.FIRE’S EXTENTThe $7.1 million Bear Fire injured 13 firefighters and compelled evacuations for 150 households along Bear Creek Road halfway between Highway 9 and Highway 17.”Arson cases can be very difficult to prove. You have to find out who has a motive,” Rosell said. “And, typically, there is not a lot of evidence available.”Last week, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference to announce the motive was a feud at the property.It is not known how many people were living on the property, Assistant District Attorney Michael McKinney told the Sentinel shortly after the hearing.”It is unclear. It is really unclear,” McKinney said.Three witnesses told detectives they saw Coy light the fire, according to the sheriff’s office.In addition, the District Attorney’s Office seeks Julia Cabibi, the resident of 475 Diane’s Way – a tract where a house was burned close to the fire’s origin – as a person of interest, Rosell said.Multiple witnesses also are sought for questioning, McKinney said. He said some of those witnesses have connections to the property.Rosell said the ongoing dispute was “about various things” but was unable to specify the feud.Public defender Sarah Schumacher, who was appointed to represent Coy, said the next hearing will offer another chance to dispute the bail amount. She asked for Coy’s bail to be set at $150,000.In the arson case, bail was set at $500,000. Coy also faces $300,000 in bail for his pending cases.Coy is held at Santa Cruz County Jail.Coy’s next court hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 1.
