Child molester to learn fate for setting one of California’s largest wildfires

The man behind one of California’s most destructive wildfires was convicted Friday nearly two years after the blaze burned more than 400,000 acres.

Ronnie Stout, of Chico, was found guilty of malicious arson charges in connection with the 2024 Park Fire, the state’s fourth-largest on record.

The conviction also includes enhancements for causing multiple structures to burn and for a third strike under California’s Three Strikes Law.

His first and second strikes stem from a child molestation conviction in Butte County in 2001 and a theft conviction from Kern County in 2002.

The 44-year-old Stout, who faces 25 years to life in state prison, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9.

In July 2024, the ex-con and registered sex offender pushed a burning car into a park gully, authorities said. The flaming car shot 60 feet down an embankment while spreading flames into the surrounding areas — eventually prompting mass evacuations in nearby Butte and Tehama counties.

Stout was then seen calmly leaving the scene of the fire by blending in with parkgoers fleeing the “rapidly evolving fire,” authorities said.

During the trial, witnesses said Stout was drunk and got his car stuck on the side of the road. Stout had claimed when the car caught fire, he got scared and left the area.

An investigator testified that Stout did not report the blaze to emergency dispatchers at the scene. He instead called the Butte County Sheriff’s Office on a non-emergency business line hours later.

Potentially related to the fire was Stout’s personal relationship troubles, according to records revealed during the trial.

Text messages showed Stout had a heated argument with his then-girlfriend in the minutes before the fire broke out. She texted him that their relationship was over and she would return her dress and ring.

According to state data, the Park Fire destroyed 713 structure and damaged 57 more. No deaths were reported, but at least three firefighters sustained heat-related injuries.

Butte County leaders recently commemorated the anniversary of the fire with calls for more preparation for such disasters.

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