Bobby Salazar and two others indicted on felony charges; one pleads not guilty

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A antheral accused of committing a transgression for businessman Bobby Salazar appeared successful tribunal today.

Thomas Qualls pleaded not blameworthy successful tribunal connected Wednesday to a felony arson complaint for the blaze that burned 1 of Salazar's namesake restaurants.

Last week, a national expansive assemblage indicted Qualls, Shylo Badial, and Valley businessman Bobby Salazar connected respective felony counts related to the fire.

Legal expert Tony Capozzi says the lawsuit inactive has a batch to unpack.

"This lawsuit volition transportation retired and spell connected for rather a while. There volition beryllium a batch of discovery, a batch of expertise successful determining whether oregon not it was arson," Capozzi stated.

The indictment states Salazar paid Qualls and Badiali $10,000 past twelvemonth to torch 1 of his namesake restaurants connected Blackstone successful Central Fresno.

"Mentioning them successful this indictment whitethorn beryllium a means to get them to cooperate and attest against the main suspect successful the case, but that remains to beryllium seen," Capozzi explained.

Salazar received implicit $900,000 successful security wealth pursuing that fire.

Last month, we caught up with him up of his presumption hearing.

"Bobby, bash you person thing to accidental astir the accusations?" I asked Salazar.

"I'm innocent," Salazar answered.

Salazar remains retired connected enslaved portion helium awaits his adjacent tribunal date.

The indictment says Badiali has not been arrested, but Qualls is successful custody.

Salazar faces felony arson-related charges and message fraud.

"The authorities is saying due to the fact that of the arson, the security institution had to message a cheque backmost to Bobby Salazar. Using that message is simply a national discourtesy to perpetrate a crime," Capozzi explained.

The co-defendants are facing felony arson charges.

If convicted, the trio's sentences scope from 5 to much than 20 years down bars.

Salazar is acceptable to beryllium arraigned connected the caller charges adjacent month.

Qualls volition beryllium backmost successful tribunal successful January.

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