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Two arrested for August house fire in Kaplan

Posted at 8:15 PM, Oct 30, 2019
and last updated 2019-10-30 21:56:47-04

Two men have been arrested for conspiring to burn down a house belonging to one of their relatives in August of this year, according to the Louisiana State Fire Marshal.

James Mire, 69, of Sulphur, was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Jail on October 29 on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Arson with the Intent to Defraud.

Leon Fava, 43, of Lafayette, was booked into the Vermilion Parish Jail on October 28 on one count of Simple Arson. Fava faces a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Arson with Intent to Defraud in Calcasieu Parish.

Both also face an additional charge of Arson with Intent to Defraud in Vermilion Parish.

According to the state Fire Marshal, in the evening hours of August 20, their office was requested to assist with the investigation of a fire at a vacant house in the 100 block of North Montgomery Avenue in Kaplan.

Deputies discovered suspicious circumstances at the scene and determined the fire was set intentionally. Deputies discovered suspicious circumstances at the scene and determined the fire was set intentionally.

Through a follow-up investigation, Mire, who was one of the owners of the home, was identified as a suspect. In an interview, Mire admitted to a scheme to pay Fava, a friend at the time, to burn the home for him to avoid costly repairs.

Warrants were obtained for the arrests. Fava was taken into custody by Lafayette Police on unrelated charges and booked on his outstanding warrant. Mire was taken into custody by SFM deputies at the jail facility.