This Weeks' Topic
Arson

How many fires are intentionally started in Missouri each year?

• Missouri averages about 2,000 arsons a year
• Nationwide, there were 31,500 arsons in 2005, resulting in 315 deaths
  and over half a billion dollars in damage ($664 million in damage)

Let's say that you mean to burn brush but it gets out of control and burns down a neighbor's house?  Could that be considered arson?

Sometimes a person is responsible for the unintended results of an intentional act.

For example, last October (2006), someone in California intentionally set brush on fire, but it spread  and destroyed 34 homes and killed 4 firefighters.   

There is currently a 500,000 reward out for any information regarding the person who started the fire.

If someone dies as a result of wildfire that was started intentionally or as a result of someone's gross negligence, does that constitute murder ?

If a death results as a result of a felony, it may be considered murder.

What are Missouri's statutes on arson?

Arson is considered a Class B felony.

Fires or explosions that result from production of “meth” is also considered arson.

This charge may be upgraded to a Class A felony if anyone suffers serious injury or death.

Think before your burn.  Don't carelessly through a cigarette out the car window because you could be held responsible for any damage you cause.

 

Disclaimer
This information is general and may or may not apply to your situation. The information contained on this web site is not to be considered as legal advice. Since no two cases are identical, we recommend that you contact an attorney in your jurisdiction to discuss the specific facts of your case. Furthermore, since statutes and case law change so frequently and due to information provided by other sources, we make no warranty or guarantee concerning the accuracy of the content of this or any other web sites to which we link.