All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
UPDATE – Bellinger’s December 18 preliminary hearing has been reset for January 8, 2025, following the acceptance of a motion to continue filed on December 17. The motion states that the continuance was requested for “additional time to review this matter with counsel.”
(Lander, WY) – Zachary Bellinger (Y.O.B. 1991) is set to appear in Lander’s Circuit Court on December 18 for a preliminary hearing in relation the attempted arson of the Lander Bar on December 9, according court documents obtained by County 10 on December 16.
Bellinger has been charged with felony arson in the third degree and misdemeanor criminal trespass.
The affidavit filed on December 13 states that on December 9, the Lander Police Department was called to “a local tavern” (The Lander Bar) for a report of suspected arson “consisting of burned wooden siding on the building.”
On scene, LPD observed, “burned and soot-covered wood and metal on the west wall outside the rear exit of the building as well as partially burned leaves on the concrete patio below and near the burned west wall.”
The affidavit goes on to state that “a portion of the concrete appeared to have an accelerant burned from it.”
LPD soon obtained surveillance video from the bar, which, according to the affidavit, showed a subject walking north in the alley on the west side of Sweetwater Street at approximately 2:37 PM on December 8, carrying a red-colored gas can.
“The subject is known as Zacharay Bellinger, known from numerous law enforcement contacts,” the affidavit continues.
The video then shows Bellinger walking toward the apartment complex he resides in around 2:48 PM, “still carrying the gas can.”
Additional surveillance video from a different business obtained by LPD later shows Bellinger walking past the business around 4:30 AM on December 9 “holding a white cup,” the affidavit continues.
Upon reviewing additional Lander Bar surveillance footage, LPD determined that Bellinger’s clothes matched the other footage, and that he was carrying the same white cup.
The affidavit also states that upon further investigation, LPD determined Bellinger had been a former employee at the bar who had been “terminated recently and also trespassed due to his concerning behavior.”
According to the probable cause statement on file, Bellinger was trespassed from the Lander Bar on November 27 after he made a “threatening complaint” to another employee, and was soon terminated.
On December 6, LPD officers contacted Bellinger, the probable cause statement continues, to attempt to give him the no trespass notice, but he “became belligerent and refused service of the yellow hard copy.”
A warrant was issued and executed for Bellinger’s arrest on December 13, and the preliminary hearing was later set for December 18.
The maximum sentence for a felony arson in the third degree charge is 5 years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.
The maximum sentence for a misdemeanor criminal trespass charge is 6 months imprisonment and a $750 fine.
County 10 will provide updates on the case as they become available, which can be viewed here.