Accused Bidwell Mansion arsonist pleads not guilty to setting Chico landmark ablaze
A man who prosecutors say may have been motivated by politics pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to felony arson in connection with the fire that severely damaged the Bidwell Mansion, the historic landmark at the center of Chico.
Kevin Alexander Carlson, 30, was arrested earlier this month and accused of setting the Dec. 11 fire. If convicted on the count of arson plus an enhancement for allegedly using an accelerant to start the fire, he faces up to 11 years in prison.
Wearing a bright green sweatshirt, Carlson sat quietly next to his attorney, Larry Pilgrim, to enter his plea Wednesday morning in Butte Superior Court in Oroville. He did not speak. Judge Corie J. Caraway set a preliminary hearing in the case for March 11.
Butte County District Attorney Michael Ramsey said in an interview that prosecutors were still sifting through documents and electronic devices used by Carlson to ascertain his motive. But he said it appeared that Carlson had embraced far-left ideologies enough for his beliefs to have caused a rift in his family. Ramsey said it was too soon to know whether ideology motivated Carlson, but often when an arsonist targets a government building, political beliefs play a role.
Investigators, who said Carlson acted alone, used video from a combination of homes, businesses, Chico State’s campus and government agencies — including license plate readers — to piece together a timeline of Carlson’s alleged movements the morning of the fire and the hours before prosecutors say he started it.
They believe Carlson broke a window on the ground floor of the mansion around 2:05 a.m. and poured gasoline inside. Video from a minute later showed two quick flashes and caught the sound of an explosion as the fire visibly grew throughout the mansion.
The Bidwell Mansion is a three-story, 26-room Victorian house that was once the home of city pioneers John and Annie Bidwell. The grounds surrounding Chico State that the Bidwells called home is now a state park.
The park remains closed as California State Parks officials assess the next steps for the gutted estate.
Bidwell’s legacy is a matter of dispute, as some indigenous groups view him negatively and others positively. It is possible, Ramsey said, that Carlson was opposed to a monument honoring Bidwell and targeted the mansion for that reason.
This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM with the headline "Accused Bidwell Mansion arsonist pleads not guilty to setting Chico landmark ablaze."
