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| Booking information from the regional jail website for Blake Marshall Collins. |
After several months of investigation, the State Fire Marshall's office has now arrested and charged Blake Marshall Collins, age 19, of Erbacon, with five felonies related to a rash of arson fires to unoccupied structures and land in the Erbacon area this year.
Collins is charged with two counts of First Degree Arson and three counts of Sixth Degree Arson. On each First Degree Arson charge, he faces imprisonment of not less than two but not more than 20 years, and on each Sixth Degree Arson charge, he faces imprisonment of not less than one but not more than five years, plus a maximum $5,000.00 fine, plus being liable for double the amount of damages sustained by the landowner.
According to the criminal complaints filed by Assistant State Fire Marshall Z.R. Bailey, on February 29, 2012, a land fire of suspicious origin began on Erbacon Road near the turnoff to the #16 mine, being the property of the Brooks Run Mining Company. Upon investigation, this fire was determined to be an arson. The complaint further states that according to a statement made by Collins to the investigators, he drove Cheyenne Smith to the location, that Smith talked about setting the fire, that Smith then set the fire, and that he knew Collins was going to set the fire. Collins and Smith then apparently left the scene and Collins later returned to the scene as a volunteer firefighter. The complaint further states that the Fire Marshall's office noted that the fire department responded quickly on the call. These actions caused Collins to be charged with Sixth Degree Arson.
On March 11, 2012, a house fire at 290 Hickory Flats Road occurred, being the property of James Salisbury. Both the house and land sustained fire damage, and the Fire Marshall's office determined the same to be an arson. Collins gave a statement that he again drove Smith to the scene and Smith set the fire, and Collins again later returned to the scene as a volunteer firefighter. These actions caused Collins to be charged with First and Sixth Degree Arson.
On August 30, 2012, a house fire at 7337 Erbacon Road occurred, being the property of Virgil "Bill" Radcliff. Both the house and land sustained fire damage, and the same was determined to be an arson. Collins gave an identical statement that he took Smith to the scene knowing Smith would set the fire, and that he later returned as a volunteer firefighter. These actions caused Collins to be charged with First and Sixth Degree Arson.
Collins is currently incarcerated at the Central Regional Jail. Magistrate John Stone set bail today at $500,000.00.
Collins is charged with two counts of First Degree Arson and three counts of Sixth Degree Arson. On each First Degree Arson charge, he faces imprisonment of not less than two but not more than 20 years, and on each Sixth Degree Arson charge, he faces imprisonment of not less than one but not more than five years, plus a maximum $5,000.00 fine, plus being liable for double the amount of damages sustained by the landowner.
According to the criminal complaints filed by Assistant State Fire Marshall Z.R. Bailey, on February 29, 2012, a land fire of suspicious origin began on Erbacon Road near the turnoff to the #16 mine, being the property of the Brooks Run Mining Company. Upon investigation, this fire was determined to be an arson. The complaint further states that according to a statement made by Collins to the investigators, he drove Cheyenne Smith to the location, that Smith talked about setting the fire, that Smith then set the fire, and that he knew Collins was going to set the fire. Collins and Smith then apparently left the scene and Collins later returned to the scene as a volunteer firefighter. The complaint further states that the Fire Marshall's office noted that the fire department responded quickly on the call. These actions caused Collins to be charged with Sixth Degree Arson.
On March 11, 2012, a house fire at 290 Hickory Flats Road occurred, being the property of James Salisbury. Both the house and land sustained fire damage, and the Fire Marshall's office determined the same to be an arson. Collins gave a statement that he again drove Smith to the scene and Smith set the fire, and Collins again later returned to the scene as a volunteer firefighter. These actions caused Collins to be charged with First and Sixth Degree Arson.
On August 30, 2012, a house fire at 7337 Erbacon Road occurred, being the property of Virgil "Bill" Radcliff. Both the house and land sustained fire damage, and the same was determined to be an arson. Collins gave an identical statement that he took Smith to the scene knowing Smith would set the fire, and that he later returned as a volunteer firefighter. These actions caused Collins to be charged with First and Sixth Degree Arson.
Collins is currently incarcerated at the Central Regional Jail. Magistrate John Stone set bail today at $500,000.00.
Our original story on the Erbacon fires can be accessed at this link:
It is ridiculous that Collins is laying the blame on the Smith boy when the Smith boy has no defense and can not speak for himself since he is nolonger alive. This boys family has been through enough already and now this. Geeshh.
ReplyDeletePlease consider that statements posted as being made by Collins are only alleged statements. Lives can be destroyed by misinformation. This investigation is still in progress. If you have information, now is when you can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteEditor's Note: We printed merely what was alleged by the investigating officer as written by him in the criminal complaints on file at the Magistrate's office.
ReplyDeleteThis young man has never been into any kind of trouble before, I can only think that the whole alleged statement is something that these Fire Marshall's have made up to scare Collins into telling them what they want to hear. Collins goes out of his way to help others, by being a volunteer and I know that just a couple weeks ago, he gave CPR to a woman for over 45 minutes trying to save her life. I know for a fact that some of the charges against him is not the truth, because I know the person that did start the fires!!!! So you see, I know the real truth!!
ReplyDeleteEditor's note: The investigating officer has written/recorded statements from Collins.
ReplyDeleteCollins is innocent and it will come out, Editiors note I don't care what you've obtained from the magistrates office. Every person arrested is innocent until proven guilty! Note that you are the only one supporting your story!
ReplyDeleteCollins is a caring young man that goes out of his way to save others, he is willing to put his own life on the line to save others. Collins has so many friends and family that support him.
Editors note, no one cares what you have acces to from the magistrates office, what it on file, written, or recorded. Printing on here is out of context but it looks news worthy in an otherwise uneventful town!
Editor's note: We print FACTS; we are not saying whether he is guilty or not; anyone charged with 5 arson felonies is BIG news in this County, and that's a FACT.
ReplyDeleteWell said West Virginia Critic...If they didn't have proof of what he supposedly done, he would not be in the CRJ!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Erbacon getting the help they need to get their town cleaned up. Take advantage of the help they are offering you, Erbacon. TALK TO THE POLICE IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION.
ReplyDeleteTo the one who said they know who set the fires and it was not Collins, all that is left to say about you is that you are a coward.
ReplyDeleteI challenge this community to question the issues surrounding this investigation. This young man, with no criminal record, gave statements in an investigation that have been applied out of context. Sadly, this investigation involved his best friend who lost his life in a tragic accident. With thousands of dollars being offered as reward for information leading to the conviction of reported arson, as a community, ask questions. An outrageous bond of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS holds this young man hostage in a system that I challenge this community to question.
ReplyDeleteWhat is wrong with you....He confessed to helping. There is nothing to question! 6 counts I don't think that is outrageous at all.
ReplyDeleteNo. He did NOT confess to helping with arson. Don't talk about what you don't know! He has not been convicted so none of this is warranted! Whoever is so convinced he did this, probably has something to do with it!
ReplyDeleteBlake has court today and I can't wait until he is out and you all eat your own words! Ha! Losers!!!
well, heather, he is still in jail after his hearing today; and if you read the article closely you will see that it merely says the criminal complaint filed by the fire marshall said that Collins admitted that he knew that fires would be set as he drove the other guy around to set the fires--that is the same thing as the "get away" driver in a burglary--both are guilty even though only one did the burglary, or in this case, setting the fires
ReplyDeleteWell Ms Cutts, what is your reply to that statement? Also if he wasn't involved then why is he on house arrest? Do you think that they would waste taxpayers money and put an innocent person on house arrest? I suggest you read the articles, evidently you are only getting one side of the story.
ReplyDelete