Five charged in fire at truck shop
Five people were charged Friday in connection to a fire that destroyed a Jamestown truck shop in February. One of them was one of the business’ owners and three were employed there, according to the Troy LeFevre, assistant state’s attorney for Stutsman County.
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Five people were charged Friday in connection to a fire that destroyed a Jamestown truck shop in February.
One of them was one of the business’ owners and three were employed there, according to the Troy LeFevre, assistant state’s attorney for Stutsman County.
Arson was the cause of the fire that started at S&R Truck Plaza Feb. 13, resulting in more than $1 million in damage, according to the Jamestown Police Department.
Police and firefighters responded to the burning building at 1609 Business Loop East just after 2:30 a.m. Feb. 13. A large portion of the service shop was engulfed in flames, causing an additional $80,000 in damage to a live bottom potato trailer and $20,000 to a 2000 Peterbilt semi tractor.
Police believe the fire originated in the Peterbilt’s cab.
Scot Michael Soulis, 46, Casselton, N.D., was charged with criminal attempt to commit arson and conspiracy to commit arson.
Soulis, one of the truck plaza’s two owners, is accused of placing a trouble light inside a truck with the intent to burn down the S&R Truck Stop Plaza. He is also accused of conspiring with others to commit arson. Both charges are Class B felonies.
Soulis said he’s not guilty.
“I didn’t conspire to do anything,” he said. “I just happened to be down there.”
Soulis, who’d co-owned the truck plaza for about 3 1/2 years, said he thought the fire was an accident. He said he lost a lot because of that fire.
“I didn’t get no money out of that deal,” he said.
Soulis filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy just before the fire, according to The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. He had debts of $309,722, and assets of $536,555.
Others charged in the fire include Joshua David Marsaa, 22, Streeter, N.D., who was charged with arson and conspiracy to commit arson. He was employed at S&R Truck Plaza at the time of the fire. Marsaa is accused of starting a fire at the truck plaza that destroyed the building. He is also accused of conspiring with others to commit arson. Both charges are also Class B felonies.
Chad Eric Maley, 28, Ypsilanti, N.D., Arlen Lee Schultes, 23, Jamestown, and Donna Rae Rowell, 37, Jamestown, are accused of false information or report to law enforcement, all Class A misdemeanors. They are accused of telling law enforcement that the Feb. 13 fire had already started when they arrived at the building, however, the fire started several minutes after they were in the building.
Maley and Schultes were employed at S&R Truck Plaza at the time of the fire.
A Class B felony is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a maximum of one year in prison and a $2,000 fine.
Sun reporter Katie Ryan can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by e-mail at kryan@jamestownsun.com
Tags: local news, news, fire, truck, plaza
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