Pitman charged with arson

By angie meadows

A man who went on a burning spree was indicted by the DeKalb County Grand Jury last week and arrested last Wednesday. Joshua David Pittman was charged with arson and burning personal property.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said Pittman, 37, of Alexandria is the person who allegedly set fire to abandoned houses, mailboxes and a barn in the Lower Helton, Walker Creek, Jackson Hollow, Oakley Hollow and Hickman Road areas in late August and early September of this year.

According to Sheriff Ray a 40’ x 60’ barn that was lit on fire had an estimated value of $20,000 and sheltered 25 rolls of hay, a 6640 Ford tractor valued at $20,000, a 585 hayroller worth $10,000, and a 5408 New Idea disk mower valued at $2,500. All were destroyed.  The fire also damaged a 489 hay bine worth $2,000 and a hay rake valued at $2,000. The barn and farm equipment were owned by separate individuals.

The abandoned houses were burned on the night of August 27 or early morning August 28 on Oakley Hollow Road and the night of September 6 or early morning September 7 on Jackson Hollow Road. Neither home had anything of value within nor any electricity. The value of the home on Oakley Hollow Road was estimated at $15,000 and the value of the house on Jackson Hollow Road is unknown.