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COURTS Jacksonville man who burned hands torching PT Cruiser gets probation Comment By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 5:05 PM Updated Jan 11, 2016 at 5:14 PM By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 5:05 PM Updated Jan 11, 2016 at 5:14 PM » Social News A rural Jacksonville man was sentenced to two years' probation today for torching a parked car at a west Medford apartment complex in a 2014 arson fire that snuffed itself out. Boyson Eric Clark, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree arson as part of a plea agreement concluded this afternoon in Jackson County Circuit Court. In exchange for Clark's plea, prosecutors dropped charges of first-degree arson and first-degree criminal mischief against Clark, who court records show had no previous felony convictions in Oregon but a string of misdemeanor traffic crimes. Though covered under Oregon's Measure 11 minimum-sentencing guidelines, first-degree arson isn't always treated as a Measure 11 crime, Jackson County Deputy District Attorney Nicholas Geil said. In this case, the nature of Clark's crime — mainly that the fire did not immediately threaten anyone — meant it did not rise to Measure 11 standards, so the maximum sentence was 30 days in the Jackson County Jail, Geil said. Clark already served close to that time in jail since his Dec. 18 arrest, Geil noted. Had the crime risen to Measure 11 standards, Clark would have faced a minimum of 7½ years in prison for a first-degree arson conviction. On Sept. 22, 2014, an intoxicated Clark entered a PT Cruiser parked in the 2000 block of West Bell Court and used an accelerant to light two fires inside the vehicle, police said. While the flames eventually died from a lack of oxygen, smoke and flames caused about $2,000 in damage to the vehicle, according to reports. No suspects were initially identified, but a compact disc case found inside the vehicle was taken as evidence, Geil said. Because the case involved a property crime, it was a low-priority case, and it wasn't until Dec. 16, 2015, that a Medford Police Department forensic technician was able to test for, and find, the prints that fingered Clark as a suspect, police said. "People don't realize how long it takes to process forensic evidence," Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said. "It's not like in the movies." When police caught up to Clark and interviewed him two days later, he had scars on his hands from burns, for which he sought treatment on the day of the blaze, according to police. Police said there was no indication Clark knew the woman who owned the car. Geil said it was unclear what the motive was, though he noted that Clark was intoxicated and had argued earlier with his girlfriend nearby. Clark had been in the Jackson County Jail on $50,000 bail since his Dec. 18 arrest, court records show. A Jackson County grand jury handed up the indictment of Clark on Dec. 22. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/MTwriterFreeman . By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman MailTribune.com By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune Follow @@MTwriterFreeman Posted Jan. 11, 2016 at 5:05 PM Updated Jan 11, 2016 at 5:14 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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