Ex-Lynner arraigned for 2000 home arson

SALEM – A former Lynn man who has escaped charges for nearly 11 years was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Salem Superior Court for torching a Waverly Street apartment in 2000.Mathew Noyce, 29, formerly of 18 Waverly St., pleaded not guilty to burning a dwelling house and willfully burning wood and timber before Judge Howard J. Whitehead.As jointly recommended by Assistant District Attorney Carol-Ann Hillis and defense lawyer Christopher Norris, the judge ordered Noyce held without bail at the Middleton Jail.Noyce, who had been living in Atlanta, Ga., was recently detained there on suspicion of shoplifting by authorities when they discovered there was an indictment warrant lodged against him in Massachusetts.Noyce waived extradition and was transported back to Massachusetts to face the charges.Hillis said the secret indictment, which was handed up by a grand jury in May 2001, charges Noyce with setting fire to his apartment at 18 Waverly St., on Nov. 8, 2000.Noyce lived on the first floor with his mother.The damage to the two and one-half story wood frame house fire was sustained to the hallway area only. The property loss was approximately $20,000, according to reports.No one else, except Noyce and his mother were in the building at the time of the fire broke out, police said.Noyce is scheduled to be back in court on July 13 for a pretrial conference.