Former coach pleads not guilty to arson charge

A Whitefish man has pleaded not guilty to felony arson after allegedly trying to burn down his girlfriend’s Whitefish home.

James Langley, 34, entered the plea last month in Flathead District Court. Langley is a former recreation manager for the city of Whitefish and a former coach for the Glacier Twins baseball team.

A court document states that the Whitefish Fire Department responded to the Highland Drive home in the early morning hours of Oct. 8, 2013, after the homeowner woke up and saw a flash outside his window. Upon further investigation, he found his siding and a gas can in his yard both on fire.

The man put out the fires with a fire extinguisher, revealing a fire trail from the gas can to the side of the house.

A short time later, he reportedly discovered smoke coming from the light fixtures in his home and again extinguished the embers of the exterior fire.

The gas can was found to belong to the victims and had been stored in a detached garage, which was unlocked. A DNA swab was taken from both the gas can and the spout.

The man identified Langley, his daughter’s ex-boyfriend, as a suspect, and in a later interview, Langley allegedly denied ever touching the gas can or being involved in the fire, despite admitting he was at the house during the morning of the fire.

Langley reportedly provided a DNA sample voluntarily.

The court document alleges the Montana State Crime Lab later matched the DNA on the gas can lid to the sample provided by Langley.

If convicted, Langley faces up to 20 years in the Montana State Prison and a fine of up to $50,000.

Langley was initially incarcerated in the Flathead County Detention Center, where his bond was set at $50,000, but it was later reduced to $35,000, which he posted.

His next hearing is set for April 9.