Firefighters accused of arson waive hearings
Two firefighters accused of setting a fire waived their rights to preliminary hearings Wednesday during centralized court in Clearfield County.
Hunter Thomas Harris, 21, of Philipsburg, and Samuel Wilbur Connor V, 19, of Howard, are charged with burglary, criminal conspiracy/arson, arson, reckless burning or exploding, possessing explosive, incendiary material, criminal mischief, failure to control and recklessly endangering another person. Also charged in this case is Kenneth Moore, 20, of Lanse. He waived his right to a hearing on Nov. 25. All three men are free on $50,000, unsecured bail.
The charges stem from an incident on Oct. 9 at 4 a.m. in Chester Hill. According to the affidavit of probable cause, the chief of the Chester Hill Fire Department asked police to investigate a fire in a two-story home owned by Patrick and James Coval, of Philipsburg, at 309 Ida Street.
This investigation revealed that the fire started inside a wood frame shed addition attached to the back of the home. The fire spread up the exterior rear of the home and into the residence. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire.
It was determined the cause of the fire was a direct flame deliberately used on combustible materials within the shed.
Harris, Connor and Moore were interviewed regarding the fire on Oct. 26. The three men provided independent statements after receiving their Miranda warnings. Their confessions were consistent with each other and with the damage and evidence at the scene.
They explained they were at the Hope Fire Station in Philipsburg in the early morning hours of Oct. 9. They discussed setting a fire in a vacant home Moore had previously located so they could respond there with their fire company that often provides aid to the Chester Hill Fire Department.
They gathered hay, a cardboard toilet paper roll, a paper wrapper from a new toilet paper roll and a paper plate to use as a fuel package for ignition. Moore drove to the area and dropped off Harris and Connor. Harris placed the homemade fuel package inside an opening of the wood frame shed. Harris used a lighter that he obtained from Moore’s vehicle to ignite the fuel package. Harris and Connor then met back with Moore in the parking lot of Highway Pizza. They returned to the fire station in Philipsburg to await dispatch.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the fire company was dispatched by Centre County 911 for a structure fire in Chester Hill. The three men then responded back to the scene with the fire company where they helped put out the fire.
A fourth area firefighter is facing arson and related charges for a fire in Osceola Mills on Sept. 30.
Justin Michael Varner, 23, of Osceola Mills, was a member of the Columbia Fire Company in Osceola when he allegedly started the fire. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing Nov. 25 and remains in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
When he spoke to police, Varner admitted he was walking home from the fire company that night and thinking that they hadn’t had a fire in a long time, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Varner said he thought the Hertlein Building was abandoned and considered it an eyesore. He found an unsecured door, walked in and lit a pile of cardboard on fire with a road flare. He said he then went home.
Later he walked back near the building while talking on the phone with Lt. James Pancoast, of the Columbia Fire Company. He told Pancoast that he smelled smoke and thought it was coming from the Hertlein Building. Pancoast arrived on the scene and they investigated it together. After they opened the door and saw flames, Pancoast called 911. Varner went to the fire station and then returned with the other firefighters to put out the blaze. He estimated that he lit the fire about an hour before contacting Pancoast.
Varner admitted to police that he set the fire for an adrenaline rush.
This story was originally published December 16, 2015 at 7:29 PM with the headline "Firefighters accused of arson waive hearings."