A man charged with arson with disregard for human life following a fire at 99 McNaughton Avenue West in Chatham in January is out on bail for a second time.
David Anderson, 72, had another bail hearing on Wednesday in Chatham court for breaching his initial bail conditions laid out in February.
On Wednesday, Anderson was released with several conditions after pleading guilty to the breach, including wearing a GPS ankle monitor, promising to pay $1,500 if he broke his bail conditions again, continuing to reside at the Kent Motel in Chatham, and regularly reporting to the John Howard Society bail supervision program. He is also banned from possessing weapons, ammunition, explosive devices, and incendiary devices, except for a lighter to light his cigarettes.
The court heard that Anderson was re-arrested on June 24 in Chatham after he violated his February court release orders by visiting his girlfriend at 99 McNaughton Avenue in Chatham to put sun tan lotion on her.
Anderson was told by the court in Chatham in February that he couldn't return to 99 McNaughton Avenue West except to pick up his belongings while being accompanied by a uniformed police officer.
On Wednesday, he promised not to go back to 99 McNaughton and would have his girlfriend visit him instead at Kent Motel.
Anderson agreed to comply with the release orders set by the court, but the Assistant Crown told the court that she doesn't trust Anderson will comply because his lengthy criminal history suggests he does what he wants and doesn't have any regard or concern for court orders or others.
The fire at 99 McNaughton caused $250,000 in damage. Fire crews arrived to find heavy smoke and extreme heat on the second floor.
The social housing complex was safely evacuated and residents were given temporary shelter assistance through the Municipality of Chatham-Kent and Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Chatham-Kent police noted no one was hurt in the fire, and it was contained to a single unit. However, other units suffered smoke and water damage.
The same building was the site of another arson in August 2024 that displaced approximately 100 residents for up to a year.
The two accused in the 2024 arson had their charges withdrawn due to a lack of evidence.
