Greene County man charged with arson after Mather house fire
A Greene County man is accused of setting fire to an unoccupied house in Jefferson Township last week and allegedly told another person that he planned to burn down other abandoned structures in the area.
State police said Corey Allen McCartney, 22, and two 13-year-olds went to the two-story house at 327 Third St. in the neighborhood of Mather about 3:20 p.m. Thursday and went inside the attached garage through an unlocked door.
McCartney then lit a piece of paper in the garage and left with the two teens, investigators said, before the garage caught fire. Jefferson fire Chief Joe Petek said firefighters arrived quickly and were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the house, although the dwelling sustained smoke damage. No other structures were damaged.
“The houses are far enough apart that the neighboring houses not in jeopardy,” Petek said. “Fortunately, we made a quick stop on it.”
Investigators said the property is used periodically by Kevin Clelland and sustained about $10,000 worth of damage. State police Trooper Douglas Rush, who investigated the fire, said a witness identified McCartney as the person who set the blaze. He allegedly talked to the two teens about setting the fire, and that he wanted to set fires to other abandoned houses, a claim he denied while being interviewed by investigators, Rush said.
Troopers arrested him Friday and filed felony charges of arson in danger of causing death or injury and arson to an unoccupied structure.
“Whether or not we prevented any other houses being lit up, I don’t know,” Rush said. “He had said something about it, but that there weren’t any other abandoned houses in (Mather).”
The two teens will not be charged, Rush said.
“They just happened to be with him,” Rush said.
Firefighters from Rices Landing and Waynesburg-Franklin assisted Jefferson.
McCartney, of 5 Circle St., Mather, is being held at Greene County jail on $100,000 bond while awaiting his Feb. 4 preliminary hearing before District Judge David Balint. Rush said McCartney is also wanted for robbery out of Fayette County in West Virginia.