By Denise Blaz
The Abilene Reporter-News
ABILENE, Texas — A former lieutenant with the Hamby Volunteer Fire Department, alleged to have set a church on fire, and a man accused of changing a lottery ticket and trying to cash in it were among defendants indicted by the Taylor County grand jury on Thursday.
Taylor Dupree Partain, 24, was indicted on a first-degree arson charge for allegedly causing $25,000 in fire damages to Hamby United Methodist Church, 128 CR 503.
Authorities say Partain started the fire May 20 by placing an accelerant on a cloth, igniting it and placing it in the building.
Investigators said when they got on the scene, Partain was the first person they interviewed. The Hamby VFD lieutenant said he received a call from a woman who lived near the church and said she smelled smoke.
In past court hearings, Taylor County’s arson investigator testified Partain showed up in full firefighting gear to extinguish the blaze.
The woman later said she never called Partain, and authorities said he admitted to the offense at the law enforcement center, according to his indictment.
A consensual search of Partain’s vehicle revealed a half-full bottle of fuel injector fluid and towels in his back seat.
Partain remains free on bond.
Copyright 2012 The E.W. Scripps Company
All Rights Reserved