Man pleads guilty to reckless burning in Blyn garage fire

PORT ANGELES — A Blyn man has pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless burning for starting a garage fire at the Sellin’ Style car dealership at 251 Old Blyn Highway in May.

Jose Noe Torres, 58, was originally charged with second-degree arson but pleaded down to the lesser charge June 24.

Clallam County Superior Court Judge Christopher Melly sentenced Torres to 60 days with credit for time served.

Torres, who was not in jail Thursday, was eligible to be released Tuesday.

Clallam County sheriff’s investigators alleged that Torres had been upset with his landlord and threatened to burn down the used-car dealership on the night of May 7.

A sheriff’s deputy wrote in the arrest narrative that Torres confessed to starting the fire.

Investigators determined that the fire had started on top of a stove in a trailer inside one of the garage bays.

Crews with Clallam County Fire District No. 3 quickly extinguished the blaze.

Torres has a restitution hearing Aug. 7.

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