Kidd found guilty of arson, sentenced to 33 years in prison

A jury found a 41-year-old man guilty of arson and criminal mischief and sentenced him to 33 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections last week, May 25-29.

Billy Koyt Kidd was found guilty of arson in the first degree and criminal mischief in the second degree. The arson charge is a Class Y felony. The criminal mischief charge is a Class B felony. The trial lasted three days in Pope County Circuit Court.

According to an affidavit, the Battlecross Towing and Car-Medic building at 6250 Market Street in Dover was co-owned by Kidd and Kassondra Ward, who served as a witness during the investigation.

Also destroyed were multiple vehicles, tools, and property owned by CarMedic customers and employees and valued at over $25,000. The building was insured by Federated Mutual Insurance Company for $330,000, with an additional $255,000 coverage for business and personal property. Billy Kidd reported the claim to Federated on the morning of the fire.

Investigator Colin Lillard of the Dover Marshals Office initiated an investigation into the cause of the fire with assistance from the Federal Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Arkansas State Police, the Pope County Sheriff's Office and the Russellville Fire Marshal's Office.

Federated Mutual Insurance Company contracted the forensic fire investigation company J.S. Held LLC to conduct a Fire Origin and Cause investigation on the fire at Battlecioss/Car-Medic. JS Held reported: "Based on our efforts, J.S. Held LLC was able to conclude that two separate and unconnected fires originated at approximately the same time within the 50' X 80' metal framed and sided structure. The first area of fire origin was along the rear, east-end garage bay. The second area was on top of a wood-decked storage area above the lobby and office at the front and west of the structure. The fire required human intervention and was incendiary. Ignitable liquids were detected in the second area of fire origin on top of the wood-decked storage area above -the lobby."

Federated Mutual Insurance Company subsequently denied coverage for Kidd on the fire loss.

According to court testimony, prosecutors brought in evidence that was allowed by Judge James Dunham to introduce evidence of a 2018 fire that occurred at Kidd's trailer on Weir Road in Russellville and a fire in Sebastian County that took place on March 18, 2021.

Car Medic Shop Foreman Tommy Williams told investigators he believed Billy Koyt Kidd was responsible for the fire and stated several reasons he thought so, including Kidd's dire financial situation, statements Kidd made, and his behavior on the night of the fire.

Jeff Phillips, prosecuting attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, said Tuesday there were some interesting aspects of the case.

"After some hearings, we were able to bring in to this jury the fact that the defendant had burned some buildings in Sebastian County," he said. "He was also a volunteer firefighter in some other places. He also made incriminating statements to a witness.

"Eric Cruz tried the case with me and did a fantastic job. We were pleased with the verdict."