Why did a man try to burn down his mother’s home near Black Lake? Court records provide details
A 47-year-old man accused of attempting to burn down his mother’s house near Black Lake is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Deputies arrested Shaun Aaron Schlenker on Nov. 17 in the 4700 block of 60th Lane SW. In a Facebook post, Sheriff Derek Sanders said deputies located Schlenker in the act after following tips from attentive citizens who called 911.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Schlenker on Nov. 19 with first-degree arson, first-degree attempted arson domestic violence, first-degree malicious mischief domestic violence, first-degree malicious mischief and resisting arrest.
Judge Mary Sue Wilson found probable cause for the alleged crimes and set the bail amount, according to PAO spokesperson Tara Tsehlana. He remained in the county jail as of Friday, Nov. 22, the jail log shows.
A probable cause statement describes the investigation into the alleged crimes from the perspective of law enforcement.
A deputy responded to the 4700 block of 60th Lane SW in Thurston County after a resident told dispatch that a man lit their porch on fire with gasoline, but the fire had been put out.
The deputy contacted the resident in a cul-de-sac in the neighborhood. The resident told the deputy that a man had driven through his gate before starting the fire.
After backup arrived, the deputy saw “flames shoot up” in front of a house on the same block, according to the statement. The deputy then saw a man, later identified as Schlenker, holding a red gas can and spraying gas around the front of the home.
Schlenker reportedly complied with demands to lay on the ground and the deputy placed him in handcuffs while the fire crews responded to the scene.
However, deputies allege Schlenker began resisting when they attempted to place him in the back of a patrol car. In response, deputies moved him to the ground and placed him in a WRAP restraint system.
The statement identified the owners of the second home as Schlenker’s mother and stepfather. The mother told the deputy that Schlenker had been sending her nonsense text messages earlier in that day and ended with a threat to burn three homes.
The couple then heard from their neighbors who reported someone had broken through their gate and tried to burn their house down.
The stepfather armed himself and found Schlenker. The two argued while Schlenker began circling their home with gasoline, according to the statement.
Schlenker eventually made it to the front of the home where the flames erupted and that’s when the deputy intervened.
The mother told the deputy Schlenker had been experiencing mental health issues and she shared his text messages, the statement says.
The deputy also interviewed residents at the first home that caught fire. They reported seeing Schlenker on the property and setting their front door on fire, which caused about $12,000 in damage.
Deputies noted Schlenker appeared to have driven through a community gate and then another private gate for the first home, which cost an estimated $15,000 each.
Another deputy then interviewed owners of a third home. They told the deputy that Schlenker came to their home, yelled about a man with a gun, and accused his family of ruining his life.
Schlenker left that home after stating he intended to burn his parents’ home down, the owners told the deputy.
Deputies found a puddle of gasoline on the porch of the third home and a trail of gasoline that led to Schlenker’s truck.
A gas can and lighter were recovered on his parents’ property and a flashlight was recovered on the neighboring property, per the statement.
