Jail inmate charged with arson

Published 9:41 pm Thursday, July 1, 2010

A Troy City Jail inmate has been charged with arson after he is said to have started a fire in his jail cell Wednesday.

James Vincent Thomas, 50, faces arson second degree charges after a jailer noticed smoke coming from his cell around 9 a.m. Wednesday, said Troy Police Spokesman Sgt. Benny Scarbrough.

Scarbrough said Thomas was serving a sentence on domestic violence and public intoxication charges, both misdemeanor offenses.

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Arson second degree is a felony, and Thomas has been transferred to the Pike County Jail.

Scarbrough said he is unsure how Thomas was able to start the fire but simply that one of the jailers saw it through a camera view of the jail cell.

The Troy Fire Department extinguished the fire, and none of the inmates were injured in the event. But, Scarbrough said there was a “good bit” of smoke damage left to the building.

Thomas’ bond has been set at $10,000.

The case remains under investigation.