Canon City man accused of lighting man who was sleeping in his own truck on fire

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. – A Canon City man faces multiple felony charges after he allegedly set a man who was living in his vehicle on fire early Sunday morning, leaving him with burns all over his body.

Michael Scavarda, 34, faces first degree assault-disfigurement, fourth-degree arson, first-degree burglary and reckless endangerment charges in the incident.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called to the truck of the victim, 40-year-old Jason Crowder, on an assault report, but found that Crowder and his vehicle had been set aflame.

Deputies said that Crowder had been able to escape his vehicle and run to a nearby home, but suffered severe burns in the process. His truck was fully engulfed in flames when deputies arrived, according to the sheriff’s office.

Crowder was airlifted to an area burn center, and deputies and Canon City police officers found and arrested Scavarda at his home after Crowder identified as the alleged perpetrator.

Scavarda is being held without bond at the Fremont County jail. The sheriff’s office says the investigation into the fire remains ongoing.