Columbus Woman Could Face 20 Yrs. Over Fort Benning Fire

A 30-year-old Columbus woman accused of setting fire to the Judge Advocate General’s office at nearby Fort Benning two weeks ago, has been indicted and linked to the arson by DNA evidence.

If convicted, Shawana Topekia Pierce, a former employee at the JAG office, could face five to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Officials say Pierce is a suspect in a theft case, and that files about her were in the office, which was totally destroyed, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

Fort Benning: Firefighter walking in front of the inferno which had been JAG headquarters on Feb. 6. (Photo: The Bayonet)

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Woman Accused in Fort Benning Fire Denied Bond

Firefighter walking in front of the inferno, which had been JAG headquarters at Fort Benning. (Photo: The Bayonet)

A woman accused of setting a fire that burned down the Judge Advocate General's office at Fort Benning has been denied bond.

U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth issued the ruling on Friday against Shawana Topekia Pierce, a Fort Benning employee.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Flanagan said Pierce knew she was a suspect in a theft of government property case and that files about her were in the office at the time of the Feb. 6 fire.

The structure was totally destroyed in the blaze.

Defense attorney Mike Reynolds argued that while the accusations against Pierce are serious, they don't make her a flight risk.

Faircloth said he's concerned that Pierce had packed her car before she was arrested, making it appear she was ready to flee. He ordered her held until her next court appearance on Thursday.

Information from: Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

(AP)

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ATF Doubles Reward on Ft. Benning Blaze Info

Remains of the JAG office. Click on the image for more photos. (Photo: Lily Gordon, Ledger-Enquirer.com)

Federal and military authorities are probing a suspicious blaze that destroyed the Judge Advocate General’s office at Fort Benning, near Columbus in West Georgia.

Investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are looking for evidence in the charred remains of the 10,000 sq.-ft. building, which went up in flames on Friday.

The ATF announced Tuesday afternoon that they are adding an additional $5,000 to the $5,000 reward offered earlier by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) for information on the fire.

Special agent Scott Sweetlow of the BATF National Response Team says the're looking for what sparked the blaze:

“...we're trying to develop a full picture with the use of our accelerant-detection canines, and our chemists. We're collecting evidence, but as a general principle we don't make any sort of a determination until we've got all of the facts in hand.”

If investigators find traces of an accelerant, it may indicate arson.

Former staff judge advocate and former Columbus mayor Bob Poydasheff worked at the office in the 1960's and 70's. He was stunned by the loss:

"It's just absolutely devastating to see. ...an historic building destroyed for what purpose? ... it's just unfair; it's stupid, it's just unfair."

Fort Benning emergency service director Lt. Col. Kevin Clarke says 35 Columbus and Fort Benning firefighters battled the fire, which they got under control around 1 a.m. Saturday.

After viewing the site on Sunday, and speaking with officials, Poydasheff says he has little doubt as to the cause:

"I've been told that there were some propane tanks, and so the way it presented itself - the entire building - there's no doubt in my mind; it was arson."

Sweetow declined to confirm or deny whether propane tanks were found among the ruins of the building.

Sweetow says they expect to conclude their investigation by Friday.

Senior JAG attorney Col. Tracy Barnes believe they'll be able to recover most of their digitally-stored files on the office's network server, computers and e-mail.

"We're certainly aware, that as part of the justice system - the federal court system, there's some critical records that are there," Sweetow said.

Barnes says no evidence was kept in the structure, and that the fire will not affect pending cases.

Post officials have relocated basic legal services to another office for the interim.

The 10,000 sq.-ft. JAG office is the second oldest building on post, and provides legal services for infantry troops and their families at the 184,000-acre training base.

The structure houses a law library, archives, and the courtroom where Army Lt. William Calley was convicted in the murder of 22 Vietnamese citizens at My Lai in 1968. That case was later overturned.

Officials have requested that anyone with information regarding the incident contact CID at 706-545-8915 or e-mail CID at crimetips@conus.army.mil, or ATF's 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-888-ATF-FIRE (1-888-283-3473).

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DeKalb investigators net one arrest in suspicious fires

DeKalb County investigators have made one arrest in connection to a recent string of suspicious fires along a stretch of the Memorial Drive corridor. 21-year-old Jeremy Tremaine Sprowl is charged with one count of first-degree arson for allegedly setting fire to a used car dealership. Fire investigators are still trying to determine how nine other fires in the area were set. During a 24-hour period from Sunday into Monday, firefighters responded to 11 suspicious fires along a two-mile stretch of Memorial Drive. Various businesses and a church were targeted.

Reward offered in DeKalb fires investigation

The state’s Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner’s Office has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an arsonist in DeKalb County.

A dozen fires broke-out over a recent 24-hour period in the county, along the Memorial Drive corridor. State officials said one of those fires was arson--a blaze that destroyed a building on the property of a church in the area. Other businesses damaged or destroyed have not yet been ruled arson, but officials believe that is a strong possibility. Three persons of interest were taken into custody Monday night, in connection with a stolen vehicle with a possible connection to the fires.

Rash of car arsons mystify Columbus officials

A rash of mysterious car arsons have been keeping firefighters in Columbus busy in recent days.

Fire officials say eleven vehicles have been torched in downtown's historic district, and in residential neighborhoods around the campus of Columbus State University over the last four days.

Columbus Fire Marshal Thomas Streeter says the arsonists used an accelerant to spark the fires, and that investigators are analyzing the material:

“What makes this fairly unique is that the vehicles were not stolen, and that some of the vehicles were close and up around the resident's homes...”

There were no injuries in the arsons. Residents in the areas hit have started watch groups.

Streeter says investigators don't have any leads yet, and asked the public to be vigilant and call 911 if they have any information.

Four Irwinville firefighters charged in series of blazes

Four Irwinville volunteer firefighters, including the chief, have been arrested in connection with a series of fires in Irwin County. State Insurance and Fire officials say Chief Rusty Thomas is facing several charges, including counts of first and second degree arson. The firefighters are suspected in a series of blazes dating back to last summer. The fires involved two houses, vehicles, and wood and grass fires.

Blaze at Dalton mosque site termed 'suspicious'

A fire that destroyed a mosque under construction in Dalton is under investigation by authorities. The blaze is being called "suspicious" by officials. Fire officials say graffiti with expletives was found inside the burned-out shell of the three bedroom brick house that was to be the future home of the Dalton Islamic Center. Construction on the facility began in early December, even with opposition from local residents concerned the mosque would bring traffic problems. 80 people currently attend sevices at a smaller facility.

City building arson charges for two Walker Co teens

Two teenage boys will be in Walker County juvenile court tomorrow for a hearing concerning the burning of a building in LaFayette that contained city records. A state insurance and fire official estimates that 500-thousand dollars of damage was done to the building in northwest Georgia that had mainly water and sewer department work order records for the city. A city official says customer accounts were not in the building heavily damaged by arson. The two 15-year-olds are being held in a Rome detention center until Thursday hearing.

Arson suspected in SW Georgia city hall building

A fire that has caused about 10-thousand dollars in damage to a city hall in southwest Georgia has been called an "attack" by the state's top fire and insurance official. Commissioner John Oxendine says a large amount of illegal drugs was taken from the police evidence room in the Georgetown City Hall. A fire was then set sometime overnight. State officials are assisting authorities in Quitman County, and offering a 10-thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Georgetown is located along the Chattahooche River, about 40 miles south of Columbus.

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Georgetown dope theft possibly an 'inside job'

Quitman County Sheriff Lon Ming inspects
marijuana plants seized in Georgetown.
(Andy Brown/Media General News Service)

Quitman Co. Sheriff Lon Ming says the theft of close to 400 marijuana plants from City Hall Tuesday night may have been an "inside job."

"I'm sure it's a possibility," Ming told the Eufala Tribune newspaper.

However, speaking with GPB News, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Mike Lewis would neither confirm or deny Ming's statement, or that there were suspects in the case.

The plants, seized in a bust on a wooded field last Thursday, were valued at $380,000.

The thieves also set fire to the Old City Hall building where the drugs were stored, adjacent to the Quitman County Sheriff's office, causing an estimated $10,000 damage.

"There was a great deal of smoke damage, but structurally, the building is intact,"

Lewis said, but added that there was significant damage to the evidence room, where the marijuana was being kept.

"After seizing the marijuana plants, they set fire to the building, I suppose in hopes of covering up the fact they stole the marijuana. However, the fire did not destroy the building as they thought. The state fire marshal's office has ruled it an arson, and we are jointly conducting an investigation."

The GBI is offering up to a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists, and Ming said any information in the case was welcome:

• Georgia Arson Control Hotline: 1-800-282-5804
• Quitman Co. Sheriff's Department: 229-334-3726

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Columbus police: possible murder-arson 'premeditated killing'

Columbus Police Maj. Russell Traino says that the alleged slaying of a local man on Friday was "a premeditated killing." Traino told reporters:

"They had planned this killing prior to it happening,"... "They knew that this individual carried a sum of money."

Police believe the victim is 28-year-old Aubrey Hector, a Columbus resident.

Firefighters, who were called to extinguish a car fire Friday night, discovered the man's body. An autopsy disclosed that he had also been shot once.

Possible witnesses and arrest warrants were issued by Sunday, and six individuals have been charged with a number of counts of in the case. These include murder, first-degree arson, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, according to the Ledger-Enquirer newspaper.

Traino said police have solved 17 out of 20 homicide cases in the city this year.

Fire in northwest Georgia destroys church

A third church fire in less than two weeks is being investigated this morning. This blaze broke-out in northwest Georgia--in Kingston, about 12 miles east of Rome. A spokesman from the state Insurance and Fire Commissioner’s office says the fire began around 2 a-m this morning and destroyed the Faith Baptist Church in Kingston. A dozen firefighters were called to fight the blaze. No injuries were reported at the site of the small church, off of U-S 411 in Bartow County.

This fire comes just over a week after fires destroyed two churches on June 28th. Those occurred in Washington County, east of Macon. Officials determined those fires to be the work of arsonists. Officials say it's too early to make a connection to this morning’s blaze in Kingston.

Arson killed five family members

Arson was behind the Clayton County motel fire that killed five family members huddled in a bathroom. That’s according to the state’s top insurance and fire safety official. The June 7th fire destroyed the Budget Inn south of Atlanta. Among the dead, a teenage brother and sister, their mother, mother’s fiancé, and uncle. A $10,000 reward is available to anyone with information leading to an arrest.

Arson fires in Lowndes County

Two recent fires in Lowndes County have been determined to be the work of arsonists. Investigators with the Georgia Forestry Commission found multiple starting points in the fires, thus their arson designation. Officials say there have been seven blazes set in Lowndes County the past two weeks. Valdosta officials say they've responded to 12 arson fires in two weeks, resulting in three arrests.

In southeast Georgia, the major fires that continue to burn have now charred about 480-thousand acres.

Arson arrests in southeast Georgia

There have been arrests of two juveniles for arson, connected to fires in the southeast Georgia area. A 16-year-old boy was charged with setting a brush fire near Jesup. Another boy, 12-years-old, is facing charges of starting a blaze near Waycross. Both fires were quickly put out and burned less than an acre each.

Governor Sonny Perdue's office says all arson fires have been contained. A special arson investigation task force is still following many leads. Investigators are still in search of a truck driven by an arson witness.

$10,000 reward to catch arsonist

There’s a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the arsonist believed to have started some of southeast Georgia’s wildfires. The Macon Telegraph reports that the state is offering the reward. A wildfire in Ware County has engulfed 100,000 acres over the past two and a half weeks. It’s cost millions to fight the blaze, and will hit the region’s tree farming economy. An arson team from the state insurance commission will work with local fire authorities to investigate possible arson. Confidential tips can be called in to 1-800-282-5804.

Governor to visit wildfire region

Governor Sonny Perdue will take a tour of southeast Georgia by air later today to get a firsthand look at the damage of wildfires that have been raging for two weeks. So far, the blaze has charred 80-thousand acres of swamp and forest. There are more than 800 firefighters on the scene--it's reported they have the fire about 64-percent contained.

Some smaller fires have now sprung up in Ware and Charlton counties, which have been deemed suspicious enough to call for arson investigators to be brought in. Those experts may have to come from other agencies--the Georgia Forestry Commission's own people are all involved on the lines fighting the fires.

Suspected arsonist found dead in fire

A suspected arsonist has been found dead in Barrow County, in the midst of a grass fire he is thought to have set. Investigators say they think Kenneth Douglas Morhard set some of the more than 60 brush fires reported in Barrow County since February. Morhard – who is from Flowery Branch -- was reported missing to the Hall the night before firefighters found his body.