A man accused of setting a woman’s Texarkana, Texas, house on fire last month could face life in prison if convicted.
Premium “Bay Bay” Warez Clark, 32, was allegedly upset with the owner of a home in the 2100 block of West Ninth Street when he set her residence on fire May 18. According to a probable cause affidavit, the property owner had been living out of state and had allowed Clark and his girlfriend to live in the home while she was away.
After the home owner moved back to Texarkana, she took over residence in the back half of the house and Clark lived in the front. The homeowner told investigators that when Clark chose to move out, the home owner asked him to remove all of his belongings.
The home owner reported that she heard the gate to her back fence open at about 12:45 a.m. and saw fire a short time later. The owner reported that she ran out of the east side of the residence and saw Clark coming from the rear of the house carrying a white spray bottle filled with an unknown liquid.
The woman claims she asked Clark why he set her house on fire and Clark allegedly replied, “Because you took my bicycles.”
A Facebook post made by Clark’s girlfriend the afternoon of May 17 allegedly complained about the homeowner and blamed her for taking bikes, “and my three wheel too,” the affidavit states.
Damage to a doorway and sheetrock was reportedly documented by fire investigators. The homeowner selected Clark’s photo as being the person she confronted in her yard shortly after discovering the fire.
At a pre-indictment hearing earlier this week, Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp told Lockhart the case has been charged as arson of a habitation. The offense is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison. Lockhart scheduled Clark to return to court for another hearing in August.
Clark is currently being held in the Bowie County jail. Bail is set at $25,000.