Athens son charged with burning dad’s home, man’s truck

Published 5:44 pm Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Ronnie Lee Pylant Jr. told Limestone County sheriff’s investigators Tuesday he didn’t know why he set fire to his father’s mobile home and to another man’s truck, records show.

Capt. Lance Royals, chief investigator for the Sheriff’s Office, said Pylant Jr. appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance after he returned to the scene while investigators were present and admitted he set the fires.

The 29-year-old Athens man was arrested Tuesday on second-degree arson (residence), first-degree criminal mischief (arson vehicle) and reckless endangerment. The latter charge stems from the fires being set close to a neighbor’s home, records show.

Pylant Jr. remained in the Limestone County Jail Wednesday afternoon and is under observation, said Lt. Johnny Morell.

Bail is set at $8,500.

According to investigators and a complaint filed Wednesday in Limestone County District Court, Deputy Caleb King said at approximately 2 p.m. he responded to call about a structure fire at the residence at 19404 Sugar Hill Lane, Lot 4, Athens. The home, off Alabama 127, is owned by Ronnie Lee Pylant Sr., but Pylant Jr. had been staying there the last few days, Morell said.

Firefighters advised the deputy the front passenger area of a white 2003 Chevrolet Silverado truck in the driveway was also on fire at the time of their arrival. The truck is registered in Mississippi to a James Fowler.

Neighbors told the deputy they had last seen Pylant Jr. pull into the driveway in the white truck around 2 p.m. However, firefighters found no one at home.

King noted in his complaint the truck was not close enough to the house for the house fire to be the originating source of the vehicle fire, and the vehicle doors were closed.

Investigators Morell and Chad Harbin were called to the scene as was a state deputy fire marshal. They were unable to contact or locate Pylant Sr., who had gone somewhere to cut grass, Morell said.

Morell told The News Courier Pylant Jr. returned to the scene while they were investigating and told investigators he set the fires but didn’t know why he did it.

Investigators were not aware of a dispute between father and son and believe Pylant Jr. was simply under the influence. Morell said Pylant Jr. had been staying at the home and was burning items in the yard in the preceding days.

The mobile home was ignited in multiple locations in the bedrooms and kitchen, and lighters and rags were found inside. Clothing and newspapers were ignited inside the truck.

Owens Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the blazes, but both the home and the truck are likely destroyed, Royals said.