The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

Local News

Discussion

August 21, 2008

Police arrest man on arson charge

Investigators say damage caused by homeowner

BY BRIAN L. HUCHEL

DANVILLE — County law enforcement arrested a rural Danville man accused of setting fire to his own home earlier this year.

A county deputy and an investigator took Charlie Hudison, 47, into custody Wednesday morning on a charge of arson. Bond was set at $30,000.

The fire at Hudison’s home at 18174E 1250N in the Hawbuck area was reported the morning of June 9. It began in the attached garage, according to the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Kirk Miller, an investigator for the sheriff’s department, said an investigation began after the state fire marshal’s office requested assistance from the sheriff’s department.

Miller said an ongoing property dispute between Hudison and his wife and their neighbors is a contributing factor in the fire. The Hudisons, at the time of the blaze, contended the fire was set by someone they knew.

According to court records, Hudison filed suit in December 2007 stating a deed between the Hudisons and their neighbors incorrectly described a tract of land, putting it down the middle of the Hudison home.

A preliminary injunction request also was filed in the case, alleging the neighbors had dug up plants and part of the septic system around the Hudison home. No action has been taken in the case.

Miller said there have been numerous fires at the residence. Investigators have begun to examine another fire reported dur-ing the Thanksgiving holiday last year. Two fires — one a garage fire and the other a shed fire — have been reported at the residence in the last two years. Both were determined to be arson.

Hudison was convicted of misdemeanor property damage after being accused of breaking three windshields belonging to his neighbor on Aug. 1, 2006.

Hudison was released Wednesday from the Public Safety Building after his wife posted bond in the arson case. His first court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 19.

The arson charge is a Class 2 felony, punishable by up to seven years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Text Only
Local News
E-edition
AP Video
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight 'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party 79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
NDN Video
Sandusky Can See Grandkids, Have Local Jury 'Bachelor' Free Falls into the Ocean Apple of their eye at $500 a share Adele's revealing "60 Minutes" interview Rosenthal: A's sign Cespedes Bobby Brown on Houston's Death Turkey's first face transplant Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital Obama Unveils $3.8 Trillion Budget Kelly Ripa's Fashion Faux Pas Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote Lusetich: AT&T Recap Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space Grammys 2012: Highlights 2.12: Pebble Beach Pro-Am -- Phil Mickelson 2012 Grammys: Rihanna 2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips