Accused arsonist Bobby Salazar denied the federal charges against him in a Fresno court appearance on Thursday.

In addition to the two felony arson counts previously filed against the Fresno restaurateur, Salazar now faces a third charge of having a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which is a felony. Salazar, 63, denied all charges in his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe.

Salazar is accused of hiring a motorcycle gang to burn down his Blackstone Avenue taqueria. After the fire, Salazar received nearly $1 million from an insurance company.

McAuliffe was skeptical of the financial statement Salazar presented to the court, but assigned him a federal public defender, Kara Renee Ottervanger, of Fresno.

Salazar’s detention hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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