Man pleads not guilty to starting fire near homeless men in Boston

BOSTON — A Massachusetts man has pleaded not guilty to starting a fire in downtown Boston that police say endangered the lives of two homeless men.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley says Matthew Cody, of Arlington, was arraigned Monday in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of arson and attempted murder. He was held on $30,000 cash bail.

Authorities allege the 30-year-old Cody set the fire on Oct. 8, 2015, in downtown Boston near where two homeless men were sleeping. Prosecutors say the men could have been injured if not for a passerby who roused them awake.

Prosecutors say Cody lit a book on fire then walked away. The fire went out and a short time later Cody allegedly returned and lit it again.

“[He,] for absolutely no reason, decided to light my book on fire which was like right next to all my blankets and stuff,” victim Keenan Duris said.

It's been several months since the attack, but Duris said he is still in shock about what happened.

“I honestly started laughing hysterically out of fear. Who the hell would do this? It was such shock, I didn't cry I didn't freak out. I just laughed. I was so astonished somebody could do that to someone,” Duris said.

Cody was arrested Monday morning. He's due back in court Aug. 16.

His lawyer, Andrew Stockwell-Alpert, didn't immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group