Marjorie Hernandez

Marjorie.Hernandez@vcstar.com, 805-437-0263

The owner of a Thai restaurant pleaded not guilty to an arson charge in connection with a blaze that broke out last month above his downtown Ventura business.

Chingchai Liampetchakul, 58, the owner of Tipps Thai Cuisine, appeared Friday before Ventura County Superior Court Judge Patricia Murphy for a first-appearance arraignment. The owner of the restaurant at 512 E. Main St. was charged with one felony count of arson to a structure or forest and was ordered to return to court June 7 for an early disposition conference.

As of Friday afternoon, Liampetchakul remained in custody in county jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. He was ordered to surrender his passport to the court.

The fire that damaged the second floor of the building, which was a meeting space for the Odd Fellows, was reported at 10:06 p.m. April 17, Ventura Fire Department officials said. The restaurant is directly below the club's space.

Read more:

When firefighters arrived on the scene, they found smoke and flames coming from the meeting area, according to the Ventura Fire Department. Firefighters contained the blaze within 16 minutes.

The second floor of the building was red-tagged and officials said the fire caused about $150,000 in damage. Ventura Fire Department arson detectives determined the fire was intentionally started.

Investigators with the police and fire departments as well as the Ventura County District Attorney's Office determined Liampetchakul was allegedly responsible for starting the fire, officials said. The Ventura man was arrested Wednesday after detectives served search warrants at his home in the 700 block of Adirondack Avenue and at his business.

Liampetchakul's defense attorney, Christopher Welch, said the restauranteur has been suffering from severe depression and has not been the same since suffering a stroke while working alone at the restaurant on Super Bowl Sunday.

Liampetchakul, better known as "Chang" to his customers, opened Tipps Thai in 1983.

Welch said the stroke left Liampetchakul's face partially paralyzed.

"He had been suffering severe mental illness, and this bad stroke really made things worse," Welch said. "He gave so much to the community over the years ... and he was always the life of the party. His family would appreciate any support and letters on his behalf from anyone he has helped. I don't think he comprehends what is going on right now."