|
|
| Inmate charged in jail cell fire |
| By Jackson Clarion Ledger |
| Published: 07/11/2005 |
|
A Warren County (Miss.) inmate suspected of starting a fire in his cell was charged with first-degree arson last Wednesday, Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said. James Reynolds of Vicksburg allegedly started a fire about 8 p.m. Sunday in his second-floor cell block using newspaper, a mattress and a lighter, said Mike Traxler, an investigator with the Warren County Sheriff's Department. Reynolds told investigators he was unhappy with his cell and wanted to be moved, Traxler said, citing the reason the inmate gave for setting the fire. Reynolds is now being held in a solitary cell, he said. Reynolds was jailed by Vicksburg Police Department in May for three counts of armed robbery and one count of grand larceny. No trial date had been set on the armed robbery charge, Pace said. If convicted on the first-degree arson charge, Reynolds could face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Sixty-six inmates were evacuated from the jail and three were transported to a Vicksburg hospital for possible smoke inhalation. Those inmates were treated and released within an hour. Since cells are made of steel and concrete, there was not much to burn and damage was minimal, Pace said. Inmates were moved to avoid a large amount of smoke from the melting mattress. Some inmates were transported to holding cells at the Vicksburg Police Department but were returned later that night. All but 15 of the inmates evacuated returned to their cells last Monday. Those 15 are being held at the Issaquena County Jail until the cell block where the fire was located can be cleaned, Pace said. The Warren County Sheriff's Department is paying $30 a day per inmate housed in Issaquena County, but Pace hopes to have them returned sometime today. Inmates are not allowed to have lighters, but Traxler said it is possible the lighter was sneaked to Reynolds earlier Sunday during visitation hours. "We just have to be more careful (with visitation)," Pace said. When a visitor is caught sneaking contraband into a facility, that visitor is banned. If any inmate is caught trying to receive contraband, he can be stripped of the privilege of having visitors. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think