Henderson man pleads not guilty to arson and attempted murder charges

A 26-year-old man pleaded not guilty Wednesday to arson and attempted murder charges in connection with a fire that badly burned his friend, who is the son of a former Henderson police chief, and his friend's girlfriend.

According to court records, Charles Rauch of Henderson was indicted by a grand jury last week on one count of first-degree arson and two counts each of attempted murder and of battery with a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm. If convicted of these charges, he could face two to 20 years in prison.

Rauch is accused of setting the fire early on the morning of Aug. 7 after an argument with his friend, Michael Mayberry.

At the time, Mayberry and his girlfriend, Jessica Calderara, were asleep inside the home at 824 Golden Plata Court in Henderson.

Mayberry, the son of former police chief and Henderson mayoral candidate Michael Mayberry, suffered third-degree burns.

Calderara had burns on 45 percent of her body.

Rauch's trial was scheduled for December.

Rauch is being held at the Clark County Detention Center, according to jail records. His bail is set at $250,000.