A former member of the Corydon Township Fire Department is in McKean County Jail for allegedly starting a fire at a West Washington Street home in November of 2020.
Kristopher D. Johnson, 23, of Lawtons, N.Y., is also being charged for stealing money from the fire department in the same time period.
According to the criminal complaint for the arson case, on Nov. 9, 2020, a residence directly next door to the Corydon Township Fire Station on West Washington Street caught fire. Through investigation, police determined Johnson gained entry into the home through a rear door and started a fire, and attempted to start other fires throughout the structure.
During the investigation, it was determined that Johnson was at the fire station just before the fire was reported, was seen in the area of the fire, and was one of the first department members on the scene of the fire, the complaint stated.
On Nov. 25, 2020, fire department officials contacted state police to report a theft. He said he had noticed money missing from the soda/snack fund over a several-month period, so they installed a security camera to monitor the lock box where the money was kept.
There was surveillance footage of Johnson stealing money on two separate days, taking a total of $70 from the box, the complaint stated.
In the arson case, Johnson was charged with burglary, arson-danger of serious injury, arson-inhabited building, and criminal attempt at arson-inhabited building, all first-degree felonies; criminal trespass-break into structure, arson-intent to destroy unoccupied building and arson-endangering property, all second-degree felonies; criminal trespass-enter structure, reckless burning-uninhabited places, reckless burning — value exceeding $5,000, criminal mischief-damaging property with intent and criminal mischief-damage property, all third-degree felonies; and recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor.
In the theft case, he was charged with two counts of theft and one count of criminal mischief.
He was arraigned on both before District Judge Rich Luther and remanded to jail in lieu of a total of $210,000 bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on both cases Nov. 3 before Luther.
