Correctional officers testify in hearing for inmate's arson case
Pictured: Joshua Hall after the riot.
CHINO -- After hearing testimony from correctional officers, a judge ruled today that an inmate at the California Institution for Men must stand trial on charges that he helped set fire to a barracks during last year's prison riot.
Caris Lynn McDougald, 24, is accused of adding flammable material to a fire set by another inmate during the August disturbance, in which more than 300 inmates were injured in about 12 hours of rioting.
The fire destroyed Joshua Hall, which housed about 200 inmates in the Reception Center-West section of the prison, and caused more than $1.6 million in damage, according to testimony in Chino Superior Court.
Officer Lee Rogers testified during a preliminary hearing that he saw three or four inmates contribute to the fire at Joshua Hall. He said he could only identify McDougald because of the inmate's distinctive dreadlocks.
"Mr. McDougald stood out because of his appearance," Rogers said.
Rogers said he saw an inmate set the fire using a cigarette lighter, and moments later McDougald and other inmates added paper and other flammable objects to the blaze.
"When they put items on the fire, the fire increased in size dramatically," the officer testified.
During his testimony, Rogers detailed what he saw during the riot -- termed a "racial disturbance" in one prison report -- which began the evening of Aug. 8 and didn't end until the following morning.
Rogers said correctional officers formed skirmish lines before entering the areas of the prison where inmates were rioting.
The officers' initial duties included coming to the aid of prisoners who were wounded, Rogers said.
"There were numerous severely injured inmates," Rogers said.
Inmates armed themselves with spears, Rogers said, and some inmates threw the spears at officers. Other inmates tried to climb the prison's electrified fence, the officer testified.
McDougald's attorney, Christina Villalobos, argued that McDougald shouldn't be held to answer on arson charges because another prisoner set the fire.
Judge Colin J. Bilash disagreed with her assessment. "More than one person can be responsible for the burning of a building," he said.
McDougald faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted. That sentence includes up to 8 years for arson, plus 3 additional years because the cost to rebuild Joshua Hall will exceed $1.3 million.
Officer Amanda Thompson testified that reconstruction of Joshua Hall will cost $1,657,500.
McDougald is next due in court July 22.
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