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Department
of Justice
U.S.
Attorney’s Office
Western
District of North Carolina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday,
November 30, 2016
Franklin, N.C. Man Arrested On Federal Arson Charge
Defendant
Is Charged with Igniting Grape Cove and Jones Creek Fires in Macon Co.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Keith Eugene Mann, 49, of
Franklin, N.C. was arrested today on federal arson charges, announced Jill
Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North
Carolina. A federal criminal complaint filed this afternoon in U.S.
District Court, charges Mann with one count of destroying real property of the
United States by means of fire.
U.S. Attorney Rose is joined in making today’s
announcement by Steven F. Ruppert, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Forest Service
Law Enforcement and Investigation, Southern Region and Sheriff Robert L.
Holland of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office.
According to allegations in the affidavit
filed with the criminal complaint, on October 27, 2016, a wildfire was reported
on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Road 388, commonly referred to as Board Tree
Road, which is in Macon Co., and within the Nantahala National Forest.
The fire was named “Grape Cove.” Court documents allege that the initial
investigation of the fire determined that it was set intentionally.
Additional investigation revealed that five other fires had been set in close
proximity to the Grape Cove Fire, however they appeared to have gone out on
their own. As alleged in court documents, over the course of the
investigation of these small fires, law enforcement located several wooden stem
matches. USFS firefighters conducted suppression of the wildfire, which
burned approximately fifteen acres.
According to allegations contained in filed
court documents, on November 22, 2016, a wildfire was reported at the end of
U.S. Forest Service Road 763, commonly referred to as Jones Creek Road, by
someone who identified himself as “Keith Mann.” USFS firefighters
responded to the fire and took immediate suppression action. The fire was
contained at approximately one acre and was named “Jones Creek.” As
alleged in the criminal complaint, law enforcement became aware that a
suspicious vehicle, identified as a mid-sized Chevrolet pickup, had been
observed in the area.
According to allegations in the complaint, on
November 23, 2016, law enforcement returned to the fire site. While
there, law enforcement observed a small cardboard box located at the origin of
the fire, with numerous burned wooden stemmed matches next to the box.
According to allegations in the charging document, on the same day, law
enforcement identified the caller who placed the call to Macon County 911 to
report the second fire as the defendant, Keith Mann. Law enforcement made
contact with Mann who admitted to setting the fires both on Board Tree Road and
on Jones Creek Road.
The defendant had his initial appearance today
before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell. Mann’s detention hearing has
been set for Monday, December 5, 2016.
The charge of destroying real property of the United
States by means of fire carries a mandatory penalty of five years and a maximum
of 20 years in prison.
The charges contained in the criminal
complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The U.S. Forest Service is leading the
investigation assisted by the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant
United States Attorney Richard Edwards is in charge of the prosecution.
Updated
November 30, 2016
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