By Wes Muller
The Sun Herald
HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. — Deputies arrested three Hancock County volunteer firefighters Thursday in a string of arsons over the last several months.
Sheriff’s Investigator A.J. Gambino identified them as Marie Gill, 27, of Gulfport; Korri-Don Jones, 29, of Pearlington; and Leslie Cheramie, 39, of Bay St. Louis.
Gill, a former firefighter with Clermont Harbor Volunteer Fire Department, faces two counts of arson, one count of conspiracy to commit arson and one count of evidence tampering.
Gambino said Gill serves on the Kiln Volunteer Fire Department but was serving with Clermont Harbor when the fires were set.
Jones, a West Hancock firefighter, faces two counts of accessory to arson after the fact and one count of conspiracy to commit arson. Jones is the son of West Hancock Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Jones.
Cheramie, also a West Hancock firefighter, faces one count of accessory to arson after the fact and one count of conspiracy to commit arson.
Officials have so far connected the three to two alleged arsons, one that burned a wooded area in the Logtown community Jan. 9 and one that burned marshland near the Clermont Harbor pier Dec. 1.
However, investigators believe the three and other unnamed suspects may be responsible for additional fires set in recent months, Gambino said.
“It’s still an active investigation, and several more arsons have come up,” he said. “We’re still continuing to question people.”
Hancock County Fire Investigator Brian Adam said the three were setting fires then responding with the fire departments to extinguish them.
It seems officials have not yet pinned down a motive for the crimes.
“We don’t know if it’s just for excitement because a lot of times their job can be boring,” Gambino said. “We just don’t know.”
As of Friday afternoon, Jones and Cheramie remained in the Hancock County jail in lieu of $40,000 and $20,000 bonds, respectively.
Gill, who faces the severest charges of the three, was released after posting a $5,000 bond for each of the four counts, set by Justice Court Judge Tommy Carver.
Carver said bonds are set not to punish defendants but to ensure they will show up in court.
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