A man accused of trying to light the Viking Bar in Superior on fire with gasoline and a cigarette after he was removed from the establishment made his initial appearance in Douglas County Circuit Court.
Timothy Harold Pearson, 48, of Maple faces one felony count of attempted arson and one misdemeanor charge of negligent handling of burning material.
Pearson had been drinking in the bar Thursday night when he began to touch a female on the shoulders and back area, according to the criminal complaint. The bartender removed him from the establishment, but Pearson returned approximately 25 minutes later.
The bartender and patrons smelled the odor of gasoline and the bartender went to the back door. There, he saw Pearson pour gas on the back door from a 16-ounce beverage container and try to ignite it with a lit cigarette, according to the complaint. Pearson then fled on foot and was apprehended by Superior Police officers.
He remains in the Douglas County Jail in lieu of $1,000 cash bail. As a condition of bail, Pearson is to have no contact with the Viking Bar and not to possess or consume alcohol.
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If convicted, Pearson faces a maximum of 20 years imprisonment and up to $50,000 in fines for the felony charge and up to nine months imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000 for the misdemeanor charge.
