The court-appointed defense attorney for Daniel L. Cronin entered not-guilty pleas Friday on behalf of his client for multiple felonies stemming from a high-profile Christmas Eve burglary and arson in Hockinson.
Cronin, 35, has been charged with first-degree burglary, first-degree arson, first-degree theft, two counts of theft of a firearm and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
He and 29-year-old Joshua Adam Roland stand accused of breaking into and then setting fire to a Hockinson house in the 17000 block of Northeast 119th Street, after Roland cut his thumb inside and was bleeding profusely.
The men started the fire to cover up the blood evidence, according to affidavits of probable cause filed in both of their cases. The probable cause affidavits for Cronin and Roland in the arson case appear to be the same.
That fire displaced a family who is now working to restore their home to its original state.
Cronin told Clark County Superior Court Judge Robert Lewis during the Friday arraignment that he did not have a job or any other means of income.
Senior Deputy Prosecutor James Smith listed Cronin’s extensive criminal history for the court, which included convictions dating back over the past decade for a hit-and-run collision, car theft, burglary and drug possession, among other convictions.
Smith argued Cronin is a danger to the community given the rap sheet, as well as the allegation that Cronin went on the run after the burglary and arson, and was only apprehended following a lengthy Jan. 16 standoff with police in Portland.
The judge set Cronin’s bail at $250,000. A trial date in the case was set for March 5.
Roland appeared in the same courtroom Friday on three newly filed cases.
There are four open criminal cases against Roland in Clark County Superior Court, including the burglary and arson case, court documents show. The latest allegations include first-degree malicious mischief, first-degree theft, first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in one case; residential burglary, second-degree theft and third-degree malicious mischief in a second case; and residential burglary and first-degree theft in a third case.
Earlier in January, Roland similarly prompted a standoff with police at the Embassy Suites on Northeast 82nd Avenue in Portland. Multiple law enforcement agencies reported that Roland surrendered after several hours.
His brother, 32-year-old Michael Roland, is also facing allegations in connection with the arson and burglary case. He is accused of providing Joshua Roland with his identification and money to help him evade arrest. Both Rolands are set to be arraigned Wednesday.
Reporter Jessica Prokop contributed to this report.
