Innocent of arson, Conway man says; fire destroyed building, injured 2

CONWAY -- A man accused of starting a fire that destroyed one building in an apartment complex and injured two people has pleaded innocent.

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David Hartsell, 50, of Conway is charged with one count of felony arson and two counts of first-degree battery, also a felony.

Hartsell entered the plea Monday before Judge Charles Clawson Jr. in Faulkner County Circuit Court.

Clawson set Hartsell's next pretrial hearing for May 23 and set bail at $500,000. Hartsell remained in the Faulkner County jail as of Tuesday afternoon.

Clawson also approved the appointment of a public defender for Hartsell.

Hartsell was a resident of the Germantown Apartments where the fire took place Feb. 27.

One person's injuries were minor. The other person was burned and has been hospitalized in Little Rock.

A dog died in the fire.

Six of the building's 12 apartments at 955 South German Lane received heavy damage, and smoke damaged six other units.

State Desk on 04/05/2017

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