Not-guilty plea entered in Newport arson case

A Newport man pleaded innocent Friday to arson and other charges in an alleged fire-for-hire scheme that led to a June fire at a potato-storage house in East Newport.

Robert Butland, 19, remained in Penobscot County Jail Friday evening in lieu of bail set at $10,000 double-surety or 10 percent cash after his arraignment in Penobscot County Superior Court. Butland entered not-guilty pleas before Justice Herbert T. Silsby II to one count of arson, four of burglary and three of theft on which he was indicted last week.

Newport Police Chief James Ricker said in late July that Butland confessed to agreeing to start the fire at the old Otto Produce potato warehouse, at the corner of Route 2 and Eastville Road, for $25 — which he reportedly never received. A few days later, a 17-year-old Etna volunteer firefighter also was charged with arson, although he has not been indicted.

That firefighter, Walter Gibbons, allegedly watched the fire ignite and spread, then changed into his firefighting gear and helped extinguish the flames. Ricker has said that the suspects confirmed that the deal was an attempt to have the Etna Fire Department respond under its mutual-aid agreement with Newport.

Butland is being represented by John Bunker.