BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A Bellingham man pled guilty to arson in a residential fire that occurred 2 doors away from a Bellingham Fire Department station.
Bellingham Fire Department (BFD) personnel responded to a report of a fire at an occupied residence in the 1100 block of Billy Frank Junior Street on August 9th shortly after 11am. BFD Station #3 is located 2 doors away from the residence.
According to a police report submitted by prosecutors in Whatcom County Superior Court, firefighters arrived to find a couch on fire on the front porch and fire had spread to the front of the residence.
After an investigation, including witness reports, Nathanael Jollie Clark, age 42, was arrested by Bellingham Police and booked into Whatcom County Jail that same day charged with suspicion of 4th degree assault and felony 1st degree arson.
Court records show Clark pled guilty last month to a felony charge of 2nd degree arson and was sentenced to 15 months in custody and 18 months in community custody. He was also ordered to pay $500 in fees and fines.