Suspected serial arsonist arrested

The Karnes County Sheriff ’s Office arrested a suspected serial arsonist who may be responsible for as many as 58 fires in five counties, according to a news release.

Jeffery Dylan Lepelley, 49, was arrested on 12 counts of felony arson and additional charges are pending, according to the sheriff’s office.

In February 2018, five counties experienced several grass and hay fires, resulting in thousands of dollars in financial losses for ranchers and farmers. The counties affected include Karnes, Bee, Live Oak, Wilson and Atascosa, authorities said.

No homes or structures were affected by the fires.

The incidents resulted in a joint investigation between the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshall’s Office, with assistance from the other affected counties, according to the news release.

Investigators were led to Lepelley through GPS technology, evidence collected from the fire and eyewitness statements, the news release said.