Lang
6/15/25
A suspect has reached a plea deal in an Iowa City arson case.
Judge Andrew Chappel set a plea hearing for September 19th in the case against 44-year-old Kenneth Davis. Davis was allegedly seen on surveillance footage behind DC’s Bar on South Dubuque Street at around 10:30 on the night of October 28th. He reportedly pulled out a lighter, set an air conditioning unit on fire, and walked away.
Davis was later apprehended and allegedly admitted to setting the fire. The air conditioning unit suffered heavy, non-repairable damage. The cost to replace the unit was estimated at approximately $6,000.
Davis was charged with 1st Degree Arson and 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief.
Earlier in the night, Davis was on the 100 block of South Linn Street and allegedly tried to get into a parked car. When unsuccessful, he reportedly broke the driver’s side mirror. He was charged with 4th Degree Criminal Mischief.
If convicted on all the charges against him from both incidents, Davis could have been sentenced to up to 31 years in prison. Terms of the plea deal have not been released.
Just over three weeks before the arson incident, Davis was fined $855 for placing religious reading materials on the steps of the Johnson County Courthouse in July of last year, then calling 9-1-1 to report “destructive” materials had been placed there, leading to a response from the Johnson County Metro Bomb Team.