By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Charges have been filed in the fire at Nodaway County Jail last week.
The Nodaway County Sheriff's Office says 29-year-old Ethan Mark Bentley, of Rulo, Nebraska, is charged with first-degree arson, a Class B felony, in the fire that started at the jail last Thursday.
Nodaway County Attorney Caleb Phillips noted that Bentley is a “Prior and Persistent Offender,” having been found guilty on two or more felonies committed at different times.
Bentley has four felony convictions in Nebraska from 2012-2015.
At the time of the fire, Bentley was being held in Nodaway County on charges stemming from an incident that took place on January 6, 2021, in Maryville.
Maryville Police attempted to stop a vehicle allegedly driven by Bentley after a witness reported seeing a man assaulting a woman in the car.
Officers attempted to stop Bentley in his vehicle, and a pursuit ensued.
During the pursuit, authorities say Bentley intentionally drove head on into a Maryville Police car, and then assaulted an officer during his arrest.
Bentley is charged in that case with two counts of first-degree assault, first-degree property damage and a class E felony of resisting a lawful stop.
