A trial date was scheduled Wednesday morning in Christian Circuit Court for the Oak Grove man accused of setting fire to a mobile home with his wife inside.
Defense Attorney Stephanie Ritchie-Mize told Judge John Atkins that the Commonwealth has offered a plea deal that would come with a 20-year prison sentence, but 51-year old Charles Smalls would rather go to trial on the first-degree arson charge than accept that sentence.
Judge John Atkins scheduled a trial for July 14 and 15.
Smalls is alleged to have intentionally started a fire using lighter fluid in a home on Zackary Street in April of last year following an argument with his wife. He allegedly exited the residence, leaving his wife behind inside, and she would sustain life-threatening injuries.
Zackary St. fire/photo from Pembroke VFD Facebook