HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man convicted of arson in connection with a fire at the Plaza Towers will have his case go before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Chase Coble was found guilty of one count of aggravated arson and not guilty on the other arson charges. The district court sentenced Coble to 66 months in prison and ordered him to pay more than $7,800 for restitution. Coble appealed his conviction, although the Kansas Court of Appeals upheld the conviction. The case is now before the Supreme Court.
Coble argues the jury instruction was ambiguous because it did not specify which incendiary event was alleged in the count for which he was found guilty. However, the Court of Appeals found Coble invited the instructional error because the instruction was agreed to by both parties.
Hutchinson firefighters reported to a fire alarm at the apartment complex. Firefighters found the sprinkler system was shut off, and soot and charring in three areas. They also found chemicals, beakers, test tubes, and other laboratory equipment. Coble was found outside without a shirt and with extensive burns. Coble said the fire started after an experiment went wrong.