Arrest warrant issued for Devile in Rendevous fire case

The state has issued an arrest warrant for John Deville Jr. in the fire of the Rendevous Dinner Club that he owned. If convicted, Deville faces $20,000 or more in fines and 10 to 15 years in prison, according to Deputy Chief Brant Thompson, with the state fire marshal’s office.
The warrant charges Deville with criminal conspiracy, arson with the intent to defraud and obstruction of justice. He was thought to be outside the state at press time.
Thompson said charges against the former manager of the Rendevous Dinner Club, Eric Glenn Johnson, have been upgraded, and that if he is convicted, he could face more than $50,000 in fines and more than 50 years in prison.
Johnson, who has been in jail since being arrested on August 25, had been charged with simple arson and was being held on a $200,000 bond.
New charges include criminal conspiracy, arson with intent to defraud and obstruction of justice. Johnson also is charged with injury by arson because a fire fighter was injured while fighting the fire. Johnson’s bond has doubled, to $400,000.
Thompson said more charges against Deville and Johnson could be made, and the investigation is continuing. People who have information about the fire can make confidential reports to the state fire marshal’s office online at lasfm.org or call (866) 946-1097.