Augusta - The man charged with setting fire to a topless coffee shop in Vassalboro took the stand in his trial Thursday.

Raymond Bellavance Jr., 50, denied burning down the business.

He told the jury he got up early that morning to plant pot, then learned about the fire for the first time.

He admitted he knew he was the prime suspect, so he fled to South Carolina where he was later arrested and brought back to Maine to face arson charges.

A friend of Bellavance who lives in South Carolina told police in detail how Bellevance admitted he set the fire.

Bellavance in court said what he told the friend was a theory of the crime told to him by police. Later on one of the investigators took the stand and said the South Carolina man had details about the crime that police didn't even know. For example the South Carolina man knew the escape route that was taken through the woods.

Prosecutors say Bellavance burned the Grandview Coffee Shop because he was jealous of a waitress that worked there who was sleeping with other men, including the business's owner.

On the stand Bellavance called that notion outrageous.

Closing arguments in the trial are expected to begin Friday morning.

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