'Doubtfire’ house arson suspect had harassed doctor, records say

Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. Doubtfire. less Local news crews check out the scene at Steiner and Broadway Streets on Tuesday Jan. 06, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif, after a suspected arson set small fires to the house used in the Robin Williams movie Mrs. ... more Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 'Doubtfire’ house arson suspect had harassed doctor, records say 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The woman accused of setting fire to San Francisco’s “Mrs. Doubtfire” house had made harassing phone calls to the homeowner’s medical office and had entered the Pacific Heights home the day of the fire, according to court documents.

Tyqwon Welch, 25, pleaded not guilty Friday to felony charges of attempted murder, burning an inhabited dwelling, possession of an incendiary device, criminal threats and residential burglary, as well as to misdemeanors of trespassing and making annoying phone calls.

She appeared in court in her orange jail-issued jumpsuit but did not speak, allowing her attorney to enter her plea on her behalf.

Welch, a Los Angeles resident, was arrested Wednesday morning in San Jose in connection with the Monday fire. Police said they identified her as a suspect from information from the homeowner, Douglas Ousterhout, who is one of the country’s leading surgeons specializing in facial feminization for transgender women.

On Monday night, Ousterhout was cooking in the famous Steiner Street home when he smelled gasoline, police said. He went outside and saw his front doormat and the base of his garage on fire.

He quickly extinguished the flames and the home, which was a major location in the 1993 Robin Williams hit “Mrs. Doubtfire,” did not sustain major damage and only had minor charring along the base of the garage and on the front door.

Authorities said Ousterhout had an issue with a former client and that they were looking into whether that person was involved in the arson. Prosecutors would not say Friday if Welch, a transgender woman, was that client.

But the complaint against Welch stated that she had made annoying phone calls to Ousterhout’s medical office in December. It also stated that she had entered his home on another occasion the day of the fire, with the intent to commit a felony.

What she is accused of doing once she entered that home is unclear.

Her attorney, Elizabeth Hilton, a managing attorney for the public defender’s misdemeanor unit, said outside court that the case against her client was built mostly on circumstantial evidence, but would not elaborate on what that means in terms of her client’s possible involvement.

“I really would encourage people not to rush to judgment, especially when it involves circumstantial evidence,” she said. “Sometimes things are not what they appear to be at first blush.”

Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorney, responded to Hilton’s remarks by saying, “A judge and a jury determine the weight of the evidence.”

Tyqwon Welch is the name Welch was given when she was born male, but neither her attorney nor prosecutors could say what her preferred female name is.

Welch is being held in a men’s facility, but is grouped outside general population with another “gender-non-conforming-inmate,” according to the Sheriff’s Department. She was originally held on $2 million bail, but it has since been changed to $1 million.

A stay-away order was also issued for the “Mrs. Doubtfire“ house, said Ousterhout and Ousterhout’s son at the arraignment. Welch is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 20.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo