A Pearl River County man was arrested this week for his alleged part in the arson of a workshop.
Maj. Marc Ogden with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, said firefighters with the Pine Grove and Nicholson Volunteer Fire Departments responded to the fire, which occurred at 3624 Highway 43 N., on June 18 at 8:30 p.m.
Firefighters arrived to find that the workshop was fully involved, and worked to get the fire under control.
A subsequent investigation determined the fire was due to arson and identified 71-year-old James Bell of 20 Ashley Lane, Carriere, as a potential suspect. Continued investigation led to the arrest of Bell on June 25, for a warrant for first degree arson, Ogden said. His bail was set at $20,000.
Ogden said the case is still under investigation and additional arrests could follow.
According to tax records, 3624 Highway 43 N. belongs to Don Osbourn. Osbourn was arrested back in October of 2017 for his part in a scheme where he enlisted the help of two other individuals to burn a separate home in the county, but investigators caught at least one of the men in the act before the home was set on fire, previous coverage states. In May of 2018, Osbourne pleaded guilty to the charge of attempted arson, and was sentenced to 20 years.
Back in September of 2016, a mobile home on Osbourne’s property caught fire, previous coverage states.