Overview
- Police arrested Justin Sholly, 29, and charged him with arson, reckless burning, recklessly endangering others and related offenses after investigators say he admitted to starting three connected fires.
- The late-May fires, set May 29–30, included a trash pile, a detached garage near occupied homes and a large barn fire that destroyed vehicles and outbuildings but caused no reported injuries.
- Investigators used automated license-plate reader hits and surveillance to track a black 2015 Ford Edge to the scenes and to the Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company lot minutes before a response.
- Search warrants on Sholly’s vehicle and garage turned up fire-starting logs, lighter fluid, a lighter, wood and a radio that prosecutors cite in their affidavit of probable cause.
- Sholly is held on $500,000 bail with a preliminary hearing set for June 10 and has been suspended by his fire company, a development that could prompt review of volunteer firefighter screening and oversight.