New Orleans, La. -(WGNO)- A Municipal Court Judges has ordered that the suspect accused of setting a 6-alarm fire that heavily damaged several Canal Street buildings on Wednesday, be held until he can receive a mental health evaluation.
Judge Desiree Charbonnet ordered the evaluation for Darren Denley immediately after a public defender entered a plea of not guilty to charges that he set some paper on fire in an attempt to keep warm.
Fire investigators say that this fire was the original source of the 6-alarm blaze.
The charge is considered a minor offense and is punishable by a maximum sentence of 6 months in jail.
Any further court proceedings are currently on hold until Denley can be evaluated.