A man accused of setting fire to a Lyman Street trailer returned to Knox County Circuit Court this morning.
32-year-old Donald Denniston appeared in front of Judge Thomas Ewing for the first time, where the charges of both criminal damage to property and arson were read aloud. Denniston could face up to seven years in prison on the arson charge alone–which is a class two felony.
According to Galesburg Fire Chief Tom Simkins, the fire left an unoccupied trailer at 1027 Lyman unsalvageable. The blaze was the second of two that took place this past Tuesday. Simkins added that a fire at 815 South Cedar Street burned a single stall garage connected to an unoccupied home. Police are continuing to investigate if there is a connection between the two.
Police reports indicated that authorities received a tip in regard to Denniston’s potential involvement in an additional fire as well.
Denniston was assigned a public defender earlier this week, who appeared in court today with the defendant. Council presented Ewing with a request for a psychiatric evaluation on Denniston’s behalf, which was accepted.
Ewing commented, that “it would be wise for the defendant to use the time for treatment to his advantage.” Denniston will return to court July 17th at 11 a.m. He remains in Knox County Jail at this time.
