Multiple arson charges announced after Light Road fires – Lexington Dispatch

By Mat BattsThe Dispatch

A Thomasville man is facing multiple arson charges after an investigation by the Davidson County Sheriffs Office and the Davidson County Fire Marshals office into house and outbuilding fires on Light Road in Thomasville.

According to a press release from the DCSO, Christopher Lee Lanning, 35, of 1992 Light Road, was arrested Friday in connection with the fires.

Lanning was charged with three counts of felony second degree arson and one count of felony burning other buildings, according to court documents. Lanning is also facing charges of felony possession of a firearm by a felon, two counts of felony breaking and entering, two counts of felony larceny after breaking and entering and felony larceny of a firearm.

According to the DCSO, deputies and fire personnel responded to house fires on the 1900 block of Light Road on four separate occasions between August 2016 and January 2017. During the investigation of a house fire on Jan. 26 at 1997 Light Road, the Davidson County Fire Marshal determined that the fire had been set, according to the press release.

According to Fair Grove Fire Chief Jason Myers at the time of the Jan. 26 fire, no one was home and no injuries were sustained. Myers said the single-story home was nearly a total loss with smoke and fire damage, though some things, he said, may still be salvageable.

Fair Grove Fire Lt. Lee Sawyer said at the time that he was among the first firefighters to arrive on the scene and immediately performed primary searches of the home. Sawyer said an elderly male owns the home, and Sawyer was later informed by family members that the homeowner was in a rest home at the time of the incident.

Lanning was previously arrested by a North Carolina Probation and Parole officerduring a Feb. 7 inspection of Lannings residence and property. The parole officer, with assistance from the Davidson County Sheriffs Office, recovered $1,700 worth of stolen property. Lanning was charged with felony possession of stolen property as a result of the investigation.

Lanning is being held under a $510,000 total secured bonds after the two arrests and is scheduled to appear in court March 6.

Mat Batts can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 227, or at mat.batts@the-dispatch.com. Follow Mat on Twitter: @LexDispatchMB

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Multiple arson charges announced after Light Road fires - Lexington Dispatch

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