Merced arson suspect pleads not guilty

A Merced man accused of intentionally setting a fire that cost 11 elderly and disabled residents their homes pleaded not guilty Friday to a single felony count of arson.

James D. Salvadori, 31, entered his plea before Judge Ronald W. Hansen in Merced Superior Court. The Merced County District Attorney’s Office charged Salvadori with a single felony count of arson in the Jan. 21 fire at the Merced Golden Manor apartment complex in the 300 block of T Street in south Merced.

Walter Wall, the deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, said the judge considered Salvadori’s bail amount Friday, but ultimately ordered it to remain set at $120,000.

“The judge kept the bail at the same amount due to the nature of the crime and the potential risk to public safety,” Wall told the Merced Sun-Star.

The defendant’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender Chris Loethen, said he wanted more time to review reports from investigators and to speak with his client before commenting on the case.

Salvadori was arrested Jan. 24, following three days of investigation by Merced firefighters, police and a detective from UC Merced.

Flames erupted around 4 a.m. Jan. 21 at the apartment complex. Residents reported hearing a loud exploding sound around the time the fire broke out. Damage to the residential building was estimated at $387,000.

Two unidentified people alerted residents to the fire. The two good Samaritans and the fact that units had working smoke detectors likely prevented any injuries in the blaze, Merced Fire Department Battalion Chief Billy Alcorn said previously.

All the victims were provided shelter by the American Red Cross Central Valley or by family members.

Investigators have not commented directly on any potential motives in the case, but have said that Salvadori’s mother, on Jan. 15, moved out of the unit where the fire originated. Firefighters stopped short of calling it an eviction, but said “there was an agreement with management that she would vacate the property.”

Investigators said Salvadori had been staying in his vehicle in the area and had gone into the empty apartment multiple times after his family moved out.

Salvadori was ordered to return to court Feb. 9 for a preliminary hearing.

He remained in custody Friday morning at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 10:28 AM with the headline "Merced arson suspect pleads not guilty."