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July 3, 2007

Update: Man accused of setting home on fire

SOUTH KINGSTOWN – A 44-year-old Charlestown man was charged this afternoon with arson, assault and resisting arrest after being accused of lighting on fire the house he and his wife live in.

Wearing shorts and no shirt today in Fourth District Court, Wakefield, Brett Perkins shook his head, laughed and interrupted the judge several times, saying it wasn’t fair that he was being held without bail.

“Why am I being put through this when I’m not even guilty?” he asked.

In his statement to the court, Police Lt. Jack Shippee said Perkins’ wife told the police that her husband lit the house on fire this morning and fled. The fire at the single-family home at 56 Charles Ave. was reported at about 10:15 a.m. It took firefighters about 25 minutes to get it under control.

Perkins returned to the house while the fire was being put out, Shippee said. Both he and his wife were outside the house when firefighters arrived. The police said Perkins was intoxicated and tried to drive away, allegedly hitting an officer.

-- Journal staff writer Brandie Jefferson

Posted by Kate Bramson  at 4:28 PM | Permalink

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