Photo: Joseph Clendening
A Boone County man, 22, year-old Joseph Clendening of Harrison, is being held on a number of charges in connection with a motel fire.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Friday, Harrison’s chief fire marshal responded to a structure fire at the Family Budget Inn along South Main Street on March 24.
The fire marshal observed a deep burn on the exterior of the building. Further review revealed the fire had originated on the ground near a wall, as a result of someone placing a bag of trash near the structure purposely setting the blaze.
A fire department official spoke with Clendening who allegedly said he had seen the fire, but returned to his room without reporting it.
In follow-up interviews, Clendening provided a number of inconsistencies, before reportedly admitting to having set the fire. He allegedly admitted to going to a burn barrel with some trash, before placing a bag of it beside the building, igniting it and returning to his room without reporting the blaze.
Damage to the building and personal belongings was extensive. Water, smoke and fire damage was reported to all units, and utility services were interrupted in remaining areas of the motel. There was no report of any injuries having been sustained from the blaze.
Clendening is charged with a Class Y felony count of arson, the most serious class of crime in Arkansas not punishable by death. He also faces felony counts of criminal mischief and reckless burning, along with misdemeanor counts of failure to report fire, prohibited burning of trash and burning without a permit. He is being held in the Boone County Detention Center on a bond of $50,000.
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