Buford Man Accused for Setting Home on Fire

Hall County Courthouse

Buford, Ga. - Hall County officers arrested a man after he was rescued from a house fire. According to reports, police responded to the residence off of Friendship Farm Drive Saturday afternoon after being called there regarding a domestic dispute.

It is believed that the man was previously involved in a physical altercation with a woman and minor girl before he locked himself inside the house. It is then believed that he intentionally set the home on fire.

Firefighters arrived at the scene and entered the residence. They were able to extinguish the fire as well as locate the man. He was discovered unconscious on the second story of the home. He was immediately taken to a local medical center and reports show that he is expected to survive.

He is facing charges of arson, battery, and disorderly conduct. As a Georgia Criminal Defense Lawyer,  I will cover the different degrees of the crime of arson in today's post.

Arson in Georgia

Georgia Law breaks down the crime of arson into three different degrees. See below.

The Georgia Code defines first-degree arson in Georgia as:

A person will be guilty of arson in the first degree when by means of fire or explosive, whether or not in the commission of a felony, he or she knowingly damages or knowingly causes, aids, abets, advises, encourages, hires, counsels, or procures another to damage any dwelling house of another or any building, vehicle, railroad car, watercraft, or other structure of another…

First-degree arson is classified as a felony in the state of Georgia. The penalty can include a prison sentence of one to twenty years, a fine up to $50,000, or both.

The Georgia Code defines second-degree arson in Georgia as:

A person will be guilty of arson in the second degree when by means of fire or explosive, whether or not in the commission of a felony, he or she knowingly damages or knowingly causes, aids, abets, advises, encourages, hires, counsels, or procures another to damage…

Second-degree arson is classified as a felony in the state of Georgia. The penalty can include a prison sentence of one to ten years, a fine up to $25,000, or both. 

The Georgia Code defines third-degree arson in Georgia as:

A person will be guilty of arson in the third degree when by means of fire or explosive, whether or not in the commission of a felony, he or she knowingly damages or knowingly causes, aids, abets, advises, encourages, hires, counsels, or procures another to damage any personal property.

Third-degree arson is classified as a felony in the state of Georgia. The penalty can include a prison sentence of one to five years, a fine up to $10,000, or both.

Practice Note

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