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NEWS
Grant Parish Man Arrested for Arson
March 3, 2015
Baton Rouge, La. (March 3, 2015) – A Dry Prong man is accused of burning a debris pile and intentionally allowing the fire to spread to adjacent lands where a residence was burned. The incident happened Feb. 14, 2015 on Gator Hole Rd.
Investigators with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) arrested 50-year-old Ronald Bonicard on Feb. 27 and charged him with simple arson.
“A pilot in our forestry division was patrolling the area and witnessed someone setting the fire. Our pilots patrol the state daily looking for suspicious activity. Using the information provided by the pilot, the State Fire Marshal’s Office assisted us in identifying Bonicard,” said LDAF Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M.
Bonicard was booked into the Grant Parish Jail and was released on $7,500 bond. Investigators say while Bonicard was in custody, he admitted starting the fire and watching without taking any action as the fire spread and consumed a nearby residence. No word yet on the estimated cost of the damage to the home.
According to LA.R.S. 14:52 B, whoever commits the crime of simple arson, where the damage done amounts to five hundred dollars or more, shall be fined not more than fifteen thousand dollars and imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years nor more than fifteen years.
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