Alford plea in arson case

SANDPOINT — A Boundary County man accused of setting fire to his former wife’s sport utility vehicle has reached a plea agreement with the state, 1st District Court records show.

Jonathan David Carson entered an Alford plea to an amended arson charge. Under the terms of the plea, Carson admits no wrongdoing but concedes he could be convicted if his case went to trial.

Carson, 34, is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 6. Carson is free on his own recognizance while the case is pending.

Carson was charged with third-degree arson in connection with the October 2018 incident outside an apartment complex on North Division Avenue. The fire totaled the unoccupied Nissan Pathfinder, according to court documents.

The arson occurred following an argument between Carson and his former wife over his non-attendance at a Focus on Children class, a course required of Idaho couples who end their marriage while parenting minor children, a probable cause affidavit said.

Carson, according to the affidavit, admitted to setting fire to papers on a front seat of the vehicle with a cigarette lighter after being unable to retrieve a handgun he left in the glove box.

Carson waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Bonner County and entered the Alford plea on May 13, after engaging in mediation to resolve his case, according to court documents.

Carson entered a plea to an amended charge of attempted third-degree arson, which is punishable by up to five years in prison. Third-degree arson is punishable by up to 10 years in prison by contrast.

The state is recommending a withheld judgment and 45 days of local incarceration, court records indicate. When judgment is withheld, a defendant can have the conviction removed from their record upon completion of court-ordered obligations such as probation, restitution and payment of fines.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.