Father and son charged with reckless arson in Caldor Fire plead not guilty

A father and son charged with starting a massive California wildfire that destroyed homes and forced tens of thousands of people to flee Lake Tahoe communities earlier this year pleaded not guilty in court on Friday.

The El Dorado County prosecutor's office charged David Scott Smith, 66, and Travis Shane Smith, 32, with reckless arson. The office also charged the son with illegal conversion or manufacture of a machine gun and both men of illegal possession of a firearm silencer.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges, said Emily Idleman, assistant to the chief of investigations in the district attorney's office.