Covina : Innocent Plea in Fire Death
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A Covina man Tuesday pleaded not guilty to murder and child endangerment in the March 18 death of a 3-year-old girl in a house fire started by illegal electrical wiring.
Dennis Marsh, 33, entered his plea in Citrus Municipal Court in West Covina. A preliminary hearing was set for April 29. Marsh’s bail, previously $100,000, was reduced to $25,000.
Marsh, an unemployed maintenance mechanic, had been living in Covina with Bridget Douglas and her child, Aubrey Cowger. When electricity to the Forestdale Avenue house was shut off March 2 for non-payment, Marsh illegally hooked up the home to nearby electrical poles to do nighttime welding, police allege.
Authorities said the connection sparked a 3:45 a.m. blaze that killed the child.
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