San Diego
A transient accused of setting fire to the hotel he had just checked into pleaded innocent Wednesday to murder and arson.
William Forrest Hughes, 33, was ordered held in County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Lamborn said Hughes’ alleged actions in the weekend incident were “especially reckless and wanton.” He said Hughes pulled three trash cans into his room and set them on fire.
“It was started after an argument with the desk clerk at the hotel,” said Lamborn.
Another hotel resident, Major Garrett, 54, died of smoke inhalation. Lamborn said Garrett was asleep when the fire at the Las Flores Hotel at 725 4th Ave. was set Saturday.
A preliminary hearing was set for April 30 and a bail review for March 31.
Lamborn said Hughes had only checked into the hotel that day. He had been a resident of other downtown hotels.
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