Arsonist Will Be Free Before End Of The Year

The arsonist who torched a 12-business complex in the Spokane Valley last year got a sentence equal to a slap on the wrist, Valley Fire inspectors said.

“We were all disappointed,” Inspector Kevin Miller said. “Chances are, he’ll be back on the street before the building’s rebuilt.”

Ben N. Williams, 20, set fire to the Argonne Commercial Center, 9514 E. Montgomery on April 12. Twelve businesses were damaged or destroyed in the multimillion-dollar fire.

Firefighters spent five hours trying to control flames which sometimes leaped 200 feet above the building.

Williams was found guilty of setting five other smaller fires between March and July of 1994.

He was arrested and jailed on July 12, 1994, after a sheriff’s deputy spotted him riding his bicycle at 4 a.m. near a fire set to a house under construction on the 13300 block of East Guthrie.

The deputy gave Williams’ name to fire investigators who found it on a list of more than 100 witnesses to the Argonne Commercial fire.

Williams was sentenced on Jan. 17, 1995, to 15 months in jail, with credit for time served. He’s due to be released Nov. 11, 1995.

He refused to be interviewed.

Sgt. Daniel Smelcer, who’s in charge of the day shift at the jail, said Williams poses a substantial security risk.

“He likes to take utensils and make weapons out of them,” Smelcer said. “It’s a real security risk to even put him in a room with you.”

Valley Fire Inspector Paul Chase fears Williams will re-offend when released if he’s not properly supervised. But he’s hopeful Williams has learned his lesson in jail. “This was not a fun thing, going to jail,” Chase said.

Still, he added, “I think he’ll be a constant problem. I don’t know if he’s fixable.”