Arson hearing postponed
CONNELLSVILLE – A scheduled Wednesday preliminary hearing for two men charged with setting fires in South Connellsville Borough was postponed until October. Brothers Robert Helms, 22, and Michael Helms, 27, both of 122 Painter St., were scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Ronald Haggerty, but, at the request of the Fayette County Public Defender, the hearing was moved to Oct. 12.
The two are similarly charged by the state Attorney General’s office with arson, risking a catastrophe and causing a fire in a wooded area along with various other offenses in connection with a trio of fires in April 2005 while they were members of the South Connellsville Volunteer Fire Co.
According to the criminal complaint, approximately one acre of property owned by the Carl, Carol and Rosie Striner family was destroyed in an April 10, 2005, fire and a total of 60 wooded acres owned by Patrick Foley was leveled during April 15 and 16, 2005, fires.
Investigators valued the property damage at $75,000.
Both men have posted the $100,000 bond set by Haggerty following their Aug. 16 arrest.