Arson Charges Filed In Vacant Building Fire, Men Claim They Were Cold
TEXARKANA, Texas–A pair of reportedly unhomed men have been charged with
arson in connection with a fire they claim to have started in a vacant
building to keep warm.
David Ray Mitchell, 54, and Roger Von Deese, 53, allegedly broke off pieces
of a hand rail to use as fuel for a fire inside a vacant building Jan. 28
in the 1800 block of N. Robison Road, according to a probable cause
affidavit.
Smoke could be seen pouring from the front doors of the building, which was
previously occupied by Cash Out Texas, the affidavit said.
Mitchell was allegedly inside the structure when a police officer arrived.
Mitchell allegedly said he “was just trying to stay warm and that he’d
poured some water on the fire to put it out.”
Mitchell and Deese allegedly told officers they had been staying in the
building for three days “as there had been snow and ice covering the
ground” and claimed they found the door unlocked, the affidavit said.
The men had reportedly broken the handrail into pieces to use for the fire,
the affidavit said.
If convicted of arson, the men face six months to two years in a state jail.
The cases have been assigned to Fifth District Judge Bill Miller.