FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — A man accused of committing a crime for businessman Bobby Salazar appeared in court on Wednesday.

Thomas Qualls pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday to a felony arson charge for the blaze that burned one of Salazar’s namesake restaurants.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Qualls, Shylo Badial and Salazar on several felony counts related to the fire.

RELATED: Bobby Salazar remains out on bond amid federal charges

Legal analyst Tony Capozzi says the case still has a lot to unpack.

“This case will carry out and go on for quite a while. There will be a lot of discovery, a lot of expertise in determining whether or not it was arson,” Capozzi stated.

The indictment states Salazar paid Qualls and Badiali $10,000 last year to torch one of his namesake restaurants on Blackstone in central Fresno.

“Mentioning them in this indictment may be a means to get them to cooperate and testify against the main defendant in the case, but that remains to be seen,” Capozzi explained.

Salazar received over $900,000 in insurance money following that fire.

Last month, we caught up with him ahead of his status hearing.

“Bobby, do you have anything to say about the accusations?” I asked Salazar.

RELATED: Bobby Salazar arrested, accused of hiring motorcycle gang to set fire in restaurant: DOJ

“I’m innocent,” Salazar answered.

Salazar remains out on bond while he awaits his next court date.

The indictment says Badiali has not been arrested, but Qualls is in custody.

Salazar faces felony arson-related charges and mail fraud.

“The government is saying because of the arson, the insurance company had to mail a check back to Bobby Salazar. Using that mail is a federal offense to commit a crime,” Capozzi explained.

The co-defendants are facing felony arson charges.

If convicted, the trio’s sentences range from five to more than 20 years behind bars.

Salazar is set to be arraigned on the new charges next month.

Qualls will be back in court in January.

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