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Holy Fire suspect exhibits bizarre behavior in court appearance

Posted at 12:21 PM, Aug 10, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-10 15:35:23-04

(KGTV) — The man accused of starting the Holy Fire in Orange County made his first court appearance Friday, though his arraignment was postponed.

Forrest Gordon Clark was brought before a judge in Santa Ana, a day after refusing to leave his jail cell to be arraigned. Video of the proceedings shows Clark making several outbursts during the hearing, including calling the charges against him a "lie."

He also insisted he was being threatened.

HOLY FIRE:

When Clark's bail was ordered to stay at $1 million, the 51-year-old insisted he could easily afford it and offered to pay immediately.

Throughout the short hearing, Clark could be seen flipping his hair and staring at news cameras in the courtroom.

The judge granted a motion to postpone Clark's arraignment, which will resume on Aug. 17.

Clark has been charged with one felony count each of aggravated arson of five or more inhabited structures, arson of inhabited property, arson of forest, criminal threats, two felony counts of resisting and deterring an executive officer, and a sentencing enhancement for arson burning multiple structures.