A California man accused of lighting a sock on fire on a moving bus waived a preliminary hearing Monday.
Luther H. Joiner, 64, of Gardena, Calif., waived the hearing before District Judge David Engman for the following charges: five counts of arson-danger of death or bodily injury, first-degree felony; one count of artson-intent to destroy unoccupied building, a second-degree felony; five counts of terroristic threats and one count each of reckless burning or exploding and criminal mischief, all third-degree felonies; and summary disorderly conduct.
According to records, on Dec. 15, Joiner, who was a passenger on a Fullington Trailways bus that was traveling on U.S. Route 219, started a fire on the bus using his socks and paper, and another occupant had to put the fire out.
He allegedly told someone that he started the fire because the driver was not going the correct way to Buffalo, N.Y., and he believed he was being kidnapped. He also said he would shoot a gun if he had one, according to the criminal complaint.
Joiner, who had been incarcerated in lieu of $200,000 bail, was granted a bail change on Monday, too. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Also on Monday, Kacie M. Butler, 29, of Muncy, waived a preliminary hearing before District Judge William Todd for charges of flight to avoid apprehension, a third-degree felony; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanors; and tamper with/fabricate physical evidence, a second-degree misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint, on July 29, Port Allegany police and Coudersport-based state police were trying to apprehend Butler and Ellis Z. Ott, 33, before the pair left the state. After a high speed chase, Ott eventually pulled over and was taken into custody; meanwhile, Butler got out of the car and fled on foot, and police apprehended her about 50 yards from the car.
Police found the following in the car: three pills, suspected methamphetamine, suspected hallucogenic mushrooms, a syringe containing a clear liquid, $260 in cash, a cell phone with a smashed screen and a cell phone with a cracked screen.
Since her arrest, Butler pleaded guilty in Potter County to charges related to a search of her and Ott’s Coudersport home that yielded methamphetamine, LSD, marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms; as well as allegations that when there was no food in the home, she allegedly made her children eat psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana.
Ott still has criminal cases pending in both McKean and Potter counties.
Butler is incarcerated in lieu of $20,000 bail in the McKean County case.
Shawn M. Cabisca, 28, of Smethport, had the following charges against him bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Monday before Todd: theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, second-degree felonies.
The criminal complaint states that around Dec. 24-25, Cabisca stole a .22 caliber pistol from his mother’s car with the intent to harm himself.
Cabisca is in McKean County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Steven M. Holly, 43, of Lewis Run, waived a preliminary hearing Monday before Todd for charges of aggravated assault, a first-degree felony; simple assault, a third-degree misdemeanor; and summary harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, on Nov. 25, Holly was engaged in horseplay with another inmate at the McKean County Jail, when Holly struck the man in the jaw, breaking it. Both men told police that they were friends and Holly did not mean to hurt him.
Holly is in jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
Christopher W. Bell, 20, of Salamanca, N.Y., had charges that were filed against him in August withdrawn. Bell had faced indecent assault charges and a summary harassment charge.
