Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Officials announce charges in Golden Nugget fire

Golden Nugget Fire

Christopher DeVargas

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crews respond to a guest-room fire on the 22nd floor of the Golden Nugget downtown Thursday, March 15, 2012.

Golden Nugget Fire

Las Vegas Fire and Rescue crews respond to a guest-room fire on the 22nd floor of the Golden Nugget downtown Thursday, March 15, 2012. Launch slideshow »

A California man faces arson and attempted murder counts in connection with a fire last month at the Golden Nugget.

Jerod Pressnell, 33, is in custody at University Medical Center while he recovers from substantial internal burns he suffered during the fire, said Tim Szymanski, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Fire Department.

Fire investigators filed a count of first-degree arson and one count of attempted murder against Pressnell. The charges were announced Monday.

Pressnell was found barely alive on March 15 by firefighters responding to a fire in a room on the 22nd floor of the Rush Tower of the Golden Nugget, Szymanski said.

The fire was contained to the room in which Pressnell was found and caused about $1,000 of damage before an automatic sprinkler put it out, Szymanski said.

The floor was undergoing renovations and was unoccupied by guests.

Investigators have not said how Pressnell gained entry to the floor or what he was doing there.

Pressnell is known to be from California but is recently believed to have been homeless, Szymanski said.

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