The man accused of setting the largest of the wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of buildings and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes in eastern Washington was previously charged with first-degree murder before pleading guilty to a reduced manslaughter charge, court records show.Aaron F.Farinacci, 37, was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of three blazes burning in and around Spokane, Washington's second-largest city.The fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced about 67,000 people to evacuate.
Authorities have not alleged any connection between Farinacci and the other two fires, which remain under investigation.WASHINGTON MAN ARRESTED ON ARSON CHARGE TIED TO DEVASTATING SPOKANE WILDFIREThe arrest came hours after Washington Gov.Jay Inslee, a Democrat, pointed to climate change as firefighters battled the region's destructive wildfires.Aaron F.
Farinacci was arrested on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire in eastern Washington.(Arizona Department of Corrections)"Climate change isn't some existential global thing," Inslee said Monday.
"It's our neighbors.It's our friends."Court records reviewed by Fox News Digital show Farinacci was initially charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault in a 2010 Arizona homicide before pleading guilty in 2012 to reduced charges of manslaughter and aggravated assault.The Associated Press reported that Farinacci, then 21, fatally shot his father during an argument over washing dishes in Mesa, Arizona, in 2010.
Farinacci also shot himself but survived.A Maricopa County judge sentenced Farinacci to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault.Arizona Department of Corrections records show he was released on Dec.
23, 2020.Aaron Farinacci, 37, was charged with first-degree arson.(Spokane County Sheriff’s Office)Less than six years after his release ...