Bond set at $250,000 for alleged arsonist

SANDPOINT — A Priest River man charged with six counts of arson made his initial appearance in court Thursday.

Ryan Nathaniel Greene, 23, was charged with six counts of third-degree arson as well as being a persistent violator. Greene will return to court for a preliminary hearing Sept. 14 where the defense and prosecution will argue if there is enough evidence to proceed with the case.

Due to the danger his arson poses to the public as well as the violent nature of his prior crimes and past behavior, which include lewd conduct with a child under 16 and threatening to kill himself and victims if they come forward, the prosecution requested a $500,000 bond. Justice Tera A. Harden settled for $250,000

During his initial appearance for the arson charges, he asked to be allowed to leave jail since he cannot receive counseling there. The prosecution argued against the request because they “have been down this road before” with Greene and have attempted to get him the help he needs previously.

Greene was apprehended after investigators determined he was proximate to several suspicious fires in the Priest River area. According to the affidavit, he is suspected of starting the Buzzsaw Fire, the Mundy Lane Fire, the Thursday Fire, the Little Thursday Fire, the Mangy Fire, the Nail Fire, and the Gunsmith Fire. All were set between July 20 and Aug. 4 of this year.

Five out of six of those fires began on Mundy Lane. The Gunsmith Fire started two miles off of Highway 57. All of the fires investigated were near Priest River, where the defendant lives.

Bonner County Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Vogt said he noticed similarities between the recent fires and several wildland fires in the same area during 2021.

Deputies said their attention narrowed on Greene when both of his parents’ cars were seen on game cameras leaving scenes of the fires.

Vogt asked to speak with Greene on Wednesday after his routine probation meeting in Sandpoint for a prior conviction.

According to Vogt, during the interview, which was recorded and is being retained as evidence, Greene admitted to setting all of the suspicious fires on Mundy Lane as well as two by Stone Johnny Peak.

According to court records, Greene said he would use gasoline, diesel, or lighter fluid as an accelerant. He was shown three locations off of Mundy Lane and described in detail his fire starting process.

According to court documents, for the Mundy Lane Fire, Greene admitted to falling about five trees in the middle of the road so that the fire could cross the road and grow.

For the Thursday Fire, Greene described making a trail of pine needles and dousing it in gasoline in an effort to grow the fire onto the hillside.

At the scene for the Thursday Fire, a shoe impression was photographed by investigators. Vogt asked Greene to show him the shoes he was wearing and compared the treads to the impression in the photo and determined that Greene’s shoes match the tread in the photo. In the interview Greene admitted to wearing the shoes when he started the Thursday Fire and the shoes were later seized as evidence, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Summarized in the affidavit was a written statement by Greene where he admitted to starting “five or six fires” this year and another three last year. In the statement Greene apologized for his actions, accepted full responsibility, and said he needs counseling.

According to court records, Greene told investigators that he had always wanted to be a firefighter but that since he was a convicted felon, he could not. He also said that providing work for local fire agencies was part of his motive.

Greene was arrested Wednesday on six counts of third-degree arson. According to IDL fire investigator Rod Weeks, Greene’s alleged arson spree did not lead to the loss of human life.

If convicted, Greene faces ten years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine for each of the six charges, as well as a persistent violator enhancement, which could carry an additional five years to life.

An updated search of court records shows that Greene has been charged with three and convicted on two counts of lewd conduct with a child. He has also been charged with rape and kidnapping. Those two charges were dropped.

Greene’s documented criminal history stretches back to 2015, when he was 16 years old.