On Monday, March 9, 2026, a state prosecutor dropped arson charges against the man accused of setting the 2024 fire that gutted the historic Parks-Belk building in downtown Morristown, and the defendant was released from custody. The district attorney’s office filed a nolle prosequi after its principal witness was unable to appear in court. The dismissal was entered without prejudice, which means the state could refile charges in the future.
Prosecutors cite missing witness
Dustin Click with the district attorney’s office told WVLT that prosecutors filed a nolle prosequi because their primary witness, building owner David Silverstein of New York, was unable to make the trip after a family medical emergency. Prosecutors said Silverstein had planned to cooperate voluntarily and was not subpoenaed, leaving the state without the key testimony it said it needed to move forward.
What court records show
Court documents from the 2024 investigation indicate the suspect admitted to entering the Parks-Belk building, setting fires in multiple locations, and placing five full gas cans around downtown with plans to torch other buildings, as reported by WBIR. The state also told the court the dismissal was without prejudice, and a clerk confirmed Hamblen County’s grand-jury term will not convene again until May.
Downtown damage and the Parks-Belk site
The January 2024 inferno sent flames from the main floor up to the roof, collapsing several floors and injuring one firefighter after crews battled the blaze for more than 12 hours. The Parks-Belk building stood at 104 W. Main St. City crews later demolished unsafe sections and reopened Main Street while the owner and developers discussed rebuilding, according to WIVK. The building is also documented in historical records from the National Park Service.
Legal implications
A nolle prosequi is the prosecutor’s formal decision to pause a prosecution and is not the same as an acquittal. Because dismissals entered without prejudice do not typically trigger double-jeopardy protections, the state may bring the same charges again later. The Legal Information Institute at Cornell notes that a nolle prosequi records the state’s decision not to pursue a pending charge at that time while leaving the door open to revive the case if circumstances change.
What happens next
Click said prosecutors plan to speak with the owner before deciding whether to refile charges. With the next Hamblen County grand-jury term set for May, immediate refilling is limited by the court calendar, WVLT reported. For downtown residents and business owners, the dismissal is likely to revive questions about rebuilding plans and who, if anyone, will ultimately be held accountable for the loss of a longtime Main Street landmark.
