#BearFire suspect, Marlon Coy, mouths “You’re next” toward Santa Cruz DA Jeff Rosell in court this morning.

Rosell- “Bring it on.” pic.twitter.com/tMcp5lbuTQ — Matt Keller (@MattKellerABC7) October 31, 2017

Marlon Coy, the man suspected of starting the Santa Cruz Bear Fire, appeared to threaten Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeff Rosell in court. The Merc says that Coy mouthed the words "You're next" while looking directly at Rosell. Later, when he was told what Coy did, Rosell said, "Bring it on." He continued to comment on Coy's case later, saying, "Let’s be honest. He started a fire that burned 300-plus acres and caused massive evacuations. That doesn’t happen every day — at least not in our county.

Coy, who KSBW says is being held on an $800,000 bond, stands accused of starting the Bear Fire, which ended up burning almost 400 acres and injured 13 firefighters over the course of about 10 days. KSBW writes that his charges are officially listed as: "arson causing great bodily injury to firefighters, arson of an inhabited structure or property, arson of a forest, looting an evacuated house, and brandishing a firearm." When asked, Coy pled "not guilty" to the charges. The Sheriff's office said that Coy also looted the home of an evacuee who fled the area as a result of the fire.

According to CBS, witnesses told investigators that Coy started the fire as a result of an argument, they watched him allegedly set fire to a building near Bear Creek Canyon Road. The property was located near the home of Julia Cabibi, who was in a "dating relationship" with Coy, according to the sheriff's office. KSBW found that Cabibi had posted on Facebook about the fire, writing, "My house got burned because some (expletive) was stealing my uncles muscle cars and I found him out...it's all so (expletive)." Currently, Cabibi is wanted for questioning, though they don't consider her a suspect.

Coy is due back in court on December 1st.

All previous coverage of the North Bay wildfires on SFist.

