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 Valley businessman Bobby Salazar on several felony counts related to the fire.

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 Fresn

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