A judge raised the bond of a Collbran man accused of setting several fires in Rifle to a half million dollars.
Robin Jay Clifton is accused of starting fires that destroyed a gasoline station and bowling alley as well as other fires that caused little to no damage. Citing Clifton's long criminal record that includes at least five felony convictions, a District Court judge raised his bond from 100–thousand to 500–thousand dollars.
A preliminary hearing is set for October fifth in Garfield County District Court. As a habitual offender Clifton could be sentenced to at least 48 years in prison.
