Two Sevier County Men Plead Not Guilty in $5 Million Gentry Chevrolet Arson Case

Two Sevier County men charged in connection with a fire that caused more than $5 million in damage to Gentry Chevrolet appeared in court last Thursday for arraignment, entering pleas of not guilty.

Trent Walker Gentry, 27, and Charlie Moss, 39, each face one count of arson involving damages of $100,000 or more — a Class Y felony punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison if convicted.

Circuit Judge Bryan Cheshire set pretrial hearings for both men on March 5, 2026. Jury trials are scheduled to begin the week of March 11 if the defendants maintain their not-guilty pleas.

Gentry and Moss were released from the Sevier County Jail after each posted a $150,000 bond.

The charges stem from a multi-agency investigation into a fire that broke out around 4:30 a.m. on September 3 at Gentry Chevrolet in De Queen. The blaze heavily damaged the dealership’s service department and destroyed multiple vehicles. Firefighters from De Queen, Horatio, and Cossatot battled the flames for roughly four hours before bringing the fire under control.

Investigators from the Arkansas State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and a private investigator hired by the dealership’s insurance carrier joined the probe after evidence indicated possible arson.

According to authorities, surveillance footage from nearby businesses appeared to show two vehicles arriving at the dealership shortly before the fire began. Investigators later identified the vehicles as belonging to Gentry and Moss.

Law enforcement officials have declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.