BELLEVUE, Wash. — The hearing went on in spite of the absence of 37-year-old Isaac Wayne Wilson.
He is the only suspect in the raging fire at the Islamic Center of Eastside in Bellevue. No one was hurt and, according to prosecutors, Wilson confessed his role as the fire burned.
"It was alleged and the facts of this case are that he set fire to the Islamic Center and admitted to destroying it," said Alisha Trotter, King County deputy prosecutor. "He smelled like gasoline and a lighter was found on him."
The fire sent shock waves through the community that worships there. Just a week earlier, an Auburn man was arrested for an alleged hate crime at the mosque.
Moreover, Bellevue's police chief interrupted his vacation to fly back for this rare Saturday news conference.
"Do you think it was a hate crime?" Chief Steve Mylett was asked.
"Do we think it was a hate crime?" he replied. "We're investigating. We don't know what his motivation is. We will be talking to him."
But a few minutes later, he confirmed Wilson had a history at the mosque before this fire.
He was convicted of fourth-degree assault after yelling obscenities during a service last July.
Indeed, Wilson has a long criminal record.
"He has a number of property damage convictions," Trotter told the King County District Court judge.
"We do feel he is a danger to the community. As well as we feel (he is) unlikely to appear for court as he has 32 King County warrants since 2000."
With that, the judge set bail at $200,000.
The King County prosecutor’s office said Saturday it could file formal charges against Wilson as early as Tuesday.