Chico Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Fire that Destroyed Bidwell Mansion
A Chico man responsible for the devastating fire that destroyed Bidwell Mansion was sentenced to 11 years in state prison Wednesday at the Butte County Superior Courthouse. Kevin Alexander Carlson, 30, was also ordered to pay over $37 million in restitution for the damages caused by the December 11 blaze.
Judge Corie J. Caraway denied Carlson probation, calling the crime a “deliberate, calculated plan” rather than an act of negligence or recklessness. Carlson admitted to targeting the historic mansion as a protest against what he perceived as social class disparities, believing the government prioritized the legacy of John Bidwell over addressing homelessness.
“Mr. Carlson knew there was no way to inflict harm on John Bidwell himself, so instead, he chose to harm his descendants, the citizens of Chico, and the community who recognize Bidwell Mansion as a symbol of history,” Caraway said.
Prosecutors pushed for the maximum sentence, arguing Carlson intentionally sought to terrorize as many people as possible. His defense attorney requested a lighter sentence, citing failures in the mansion’s fire alarm system that delayed emergency response.
Adrienne Glatz, President of the Bidwell Mansion Association, called the fire “an assault on the cultural, educational, and emotional fabric” of the community, lamenting the loss of decades of preservation work and priceless artifacts in a single night.
