Homeless man arrested after allegedly causing fire in vacant house
A homeless man was arrested Saturday morning after allegedly starting a fire in a vacant house while trying to stay warm.
Christopher DeAnthony Green, 27, was taken into custody shortly after 8 a.m. and charged with a felony count of reckless burning, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Green remained in custody Monday in lieu of $2,500 bond and is set to appear Feb. 26 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police Officer Jamie Ugartechea responded to a structure fire at 2904 Malvern Ave. and arrived at the scene as Hot Springs Fire Department personnel were also arriving.
He noted a heavy amount of smoke was coming from the roof of the house, which appeared to be vacant. The firefighters pushed open the back door and asked if there was anyone
inside, with no response.
Then the firefighters went back around to the front of the house while Ugartechea checked a separate building that was standing open. As the officer returned to the house, he saw a black male, later identified as Green, walking out of the house.
He asked if Green was OK and if there was anyone else in the house. Green reportedly stated he was OK and did not need medical attention and that he was the only one inside.
Green allegedly admitted he had been “burning timber” inside the house in an attempt to stay warm. Damage to the house was estimated at $1,500, as the home suffered damage to the floor and structure.
Fire Marshal Tom Broughton responded to the scene and indicated he wanted to pursue charges against Green, noting this was the second structure fire he had caused.
Green was previously arrested Jan. 4 on a misdemeanor charge of failure to control or report a dangerous fire. On Jan. 15, he reportedly failed to appear for his arraignment on the charge and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was arrested the next day and pleaded guilty to the charge in district court. He was fined $320 plus any restitution which had not yet been determined.
Green was convicted of a felony on Feb.
29, 2016, after pleading guilty to residential burglary in Garland County Circuit Court and was sentenced to five years’ supervised probation, fined $250 and ordered to pay
$720 in court costs.