Doctoral Student Admits Setting Fire

A University of Idaho doctoral candidate has admitted setting fire to a state parole office and lying under oath.

Five days before the trial for Matthew Jay Hohenstreet was scheduled to begin in 2nd District Court, he pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree arson and committing perjury during a bond hearing.

In return, Latah County Deputy Prosecutor Robin Eckmann dropped charges of conspiracy to commit arson, grand theft and perjury that stemmed from two grand jury indictments handed down in January.

Hohenstreet, 26, said he ignited a flammable liquid inside the parole office, the same night he allegedly stole Donald Stookey’s file from there.

Stookey, 21, is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree arson and being a principal to grand theft. Jury selection for his trial begins Monday.

According to court records, Hohenstreet conspired with Stookey to commit arson while Stookey was in the state prison in Orofino for violating probation on a previous forgery charge.

Hohenstreet faces a maximum of 39 years in prison and a fine of $150,000.

He received his bachelor’s degree from the university in 1997 and a master’s degree in education in 1998.