El Cajon

A 19-year-old resident of the Linda Turman home for the mentally disabled pleaded innocent Tuesday to arson and three murder charges stemming from a Feb. 6 fire that killed three residents.

David Allen Giles appeared, handcuffed, before San Diego Municipal Court Judge Raymond Edwards Jr.

Edwards set bail at $500,000 at the request of prosecutor Wayne Mayer. A preliminary hearing will be held April 15.

Mayer said it is believed that nail polish remover and newspapers were used to start the fire on Clarendon Street in El Cajon. He would not discuss a possible motive.

Killed in the blaze were Patty Ann Melton, 33; Mark Buis, 33, and Pietra Corrao, 47. Buis’ wife, Debbie, 33, was seriously injured and is still hospitalized.

“He’s not crazy and he’s not retarded, according to reports I’ve seen,” Mayer told a reporter.

The prosecutor said Giles had no prior criminal record but may have abused drugs when he was a juvenile. He said Giles’ IQ is 89, indicating that he may be a slow learner.

Edwards appointed Bill Youmans to be Giles’ attorney after Youmans said Giles was indigent. Youmans made no argument over bail, and Giles waived his right to have it reviewed next week.

“An arson murder is a first-degree murder,” Mayer said.

If convicted of three counts of first-degree murder, Giles could receive a sentence of 75 years to life in state prison.