Man charged with planning arson of own businesses

Insurance money was needed to pay off debts.
Saturday, March 21, 2009 | 4:16 p.m. CDT
BY The Associated Press

STOCKTON — An El Dorado man, who claimed someone burned his three Stockton businesses because he is gay, has been charged with planning the torchings himself.

Cedar County authorities charged 38-year-old Dan Thornton with seconddegree arson and theft. Dina Larson and her son, Jacob Smith, were also arrested in connection with the early Wednesday fires.

According to a probable cause statement, investigators obtained undercover audio recordings of conversations between Larson and Thornton discussing the fires.

Thornton had Larson and Smith set fires at the businesses so he could collect the insurance money to pay off large debts, according to the statement.

Investigators initially thought the arson was a hate crime after Thornton said he was targeted for being gay.

 

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