Laid off construction worker charged with arson

BY STACI WILSON

An out-of-work construction employee told police he set fire to a home under construction in Liberty Twp. in 2010 in the hopes of getting work.

Charles Beard Easton Jr., 55, ofBinghamton,N.Y., now faces felony arson and criminal mischief charges for the early morning August 9, 2010 blaze.

He was also charged with recklessly endangering another person in connection to the fire.

Eastonwaived his Monday, Jan. 9 preliminary hearing in Montrose District Court and remains free on unsecured bail.

Fire Marshall Mark Naylor investigated the fire and determined it was deliberately set, according to the affidavit.

Naylor found tar paper rolled out in the garage area had been set on fire. At the time of the incident, no power or other utilities had been hooked up at the building site.

Police reported the fire caused about $10,000 worth of damage.

Eastonhad been a former employee of the contractor who was building the house, James Willsley Construction.

Police saidEastonwas upset that Willsley would not provide him with any work.

Another Willsley employee who had spoken withEastonon the night of the fire was also interviewed by police.

In addition to working for Willsley, Daniel Rowlands was also employed as the night manager of a truck stop inKirkwood,N.Y.

Rowlands told police Easton came to the truck stop shortly after 2 a.m. on the same night the fire occurred and was “bugging him” about getting work with Willsley.

Rowlands told policeEastonseemed intoxicated at the time.

Eastonwas interviewed Nov. 14, 2011, at the New York State Police Barracks,Kirkwood,N.Y.

According to the affidavit,Eastonconfessed to setting fire to the tar paper with a match in the structure’s garage area and told police he thought it might get him work.