WILLMAR - The man who allegedly set fire to his ex-wife’s home last month in Willmar, threatening to kill her and her child, pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning to a number of charges stemming from the incident.
Fidencio Rojas, 43, in the hearing denied felony charges of first-degree arson, terroristic threats, domestic assault, first-degree damage to property and two counts of first-degree burglary.
A hearing is scheduled for March 17 and a jury trial for March 25.
According to the criminal complaint on the charges, Rojas’ ex-wife and her 9-year-old child were inside their home at the time of the incident and fled to a nearby gas station to call police. The fire caused extensive damage to the home and firefighters battled the blaze for hours in subzero temperatures the night of Jan. 4. Rojas was allegedly inside the home at the time of the fire and officers arrested him at the scene.
