Transient Pleads Not Guilty to 10th Charge of Arson

A 38-year-old transient who faces nine counts of arson in connection with a string of fires that caused $2.5 million in damage to a Studio City commercial strip in December has also been charged with setting a fire in Encino the month before.

John Charles Kellogges has pleaded not guilty in San Fernando Municipal Court to an additional count of arson stemming from a fire in November at Danny’s Apple, an abandoned restaurant and nightclub in the 15900 block of Ventura Boulevard.

The building was gutted by a fire that broke out shortly before 6 a.m. Nov. 28, fire officials said. Deputy Dist. Atty. Craig Richman said Kellogges was seen leaving the scene of the fire, in which there were no injuries.

“He was identified by a witness,” Richman said.

After Kellogges’ arrest in connection with the Studio City fires in December, investigators went back and showed the Encino fire witness several photographs. Kellogges’ picture was identified, Richman said.

Kellogges was ordered to stand trial on the charge and is due to appear at a preliminary hearing Thursday. Kellogges is being held in lieu of $1-million bail.

Kellogges already faces one count of arson for each of the eight businesses damaged when three fires were started Dec. 26 between the 12100 and 12500 blocks of Ventura Boulevard. Pier 1 Imports and Strouds Linen Warehouse were destroyed, and six other businesses were damaged.

Kellogges was arrested the day after the blazes when a customer at a nearby restaurant told police that he had encountered a man in the restroom who matched the description of the suspect. Kellogges’ charred clothes smelled of smoke when he was arrested and he had a lighter and matches on him, district attorney’s officials said.

A ninth charge, for recklessly starting a fire in a structure, was added based on several fires Kellogges allegedly set in a room of the Fruitland Motel at 10822 Ventura Blvd. in Studio City.

He was arraigned on the nine charges Friday in Superior Court.