Posted by: Bethany on 02/01/2008 05:05 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 02/03/2008 11:22 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Valley Springs Arson Suspect Trying to ‘Help’ Homeowner by Burning House Down ~ By Bethany Monk
Valley Springs, C.A….The suspect in a Valley Springs arson case allegedly told the homeowner of the home he burned to the ground last week that he did it as a “favor," according to Sgt. Dave Seawell of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department....
This home at 3328 Lazer Ct. in Valley Springs was
allegedly burned down by a neighbor Jan. 25, 2007.
On Friday Jan. 25, around midnight, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Investigators were called to 3328 Lazer Court in Valley Springs to investigate a “suspicious” fire that completely burned the home down, according to the Sheriff’s report dated Jan. 30. Investigators spent several hours at the scene conducting surveillance and collecting evidence.
Sheriff’s Detectives later arrested David Alan Thomas during a traffic stop on Highway 26 near Silver Rapids Road in Valley Springs. He was booked into the county jail in San Andreas on charges of arson and attempted extortion. His bail is set at $90,000.
The story doesn't end there.
“It gets complicated,” Seawell said of the case in a phone interview Feb. 1, adding that new information about the case had been received. “I’ve seen things crazy like this, but nothing (quite) like this.”
Thomas, a neighbor of the homeowner, allegedly told the homeowner that he was the one who burned the house down “…as a favor to get the homeowner out of a financial situation,” according to the report.
“The current homeowner lives out of the county,” Seawell said, adding that the current homeowner and the previous homeowner owner are in litigation over the house. He did not comment on the litigation, but said that there is an ongoing case.
Thomas had a conversation with the previous owner during which the previous owner allegedly made a statement to Thomas that “…it would be easier if the house were to burn down,” or something to that effect, Seawell said.
After the fire, Thomas contacted the current homeowner and was trying to get money from the victim for burning the home down “and relieving the homeowner of financial obligation,” the report states.
The current homeowner and the previous homeowner are not involved in the house burning down, Seawell said.
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