51 year old Ronald Watson of Onyx, California, the man accused of lighting a string of fires in Mammoth in June of 2007, is scheduled for trial next week.

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After allegedly making threats (that included telling people to prepare to die) at the Forest Service Visitor Center, police report that they followed a pattern of suspicious fires from the Visitor Center headed toward the Mammoth Trailer Park. There, police report that they saw the suspect bashing in a cabin with a shovel. Police alleged that Watson used gasoline to set fires.

Watson has been charged with five counts of alleged arson on forest land, one count of attempted arson of a tent, and misdemeanor vandalism for the cabin at the RV Park.

Watson remains in custody. After undergoing a psychological evaluation, Watson was found competent to stand trial in August. That trial date has now been set for Thursday of next week.

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