MECHANICSVILLE — A 41-year-old Mechanicsville resident faces multiple arson charges after Deputy State Fire Marshals linked him to four intentionally set fires along the 26400 block of Three Notch Road Tuesday evening.
Jeffrey Allen Wathen was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree arson, two counts of second-degree arson, and two counts of first-degree malicious burning following the incidents reported shortly after 9 p.m. Dec. 9.
Members of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department responded to simultaneous reports of outdoor fires that included a flower bed, a shed, a deck, and another exterior area behind a nearby property. Firefighters and occupants extinguished all blazes before they could spread to structures.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal dispatched investigators to each location. During the on-scene probe, Wathen approached deputies claiming he too was a victim of a fire in his yard. His statements and behavior drew additional attention from investigators.
Surveillance video from a neighboring property captured Wathen running from one of the fire scenes immediately after flames appeared. K9 Taylor, an accelerant-detection canine assigned to the State Fire Marshal’s office, also assisted in the investigation.
With support from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, deputies took Wathen into custody without further incident. He was transported to the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Leonardtown to await an initial appearance before a district court commissioner.
Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray commended the response. “Thanks to the quick work of the fire department, our deputies, K9 Taylor, and the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, this suspect was taken into custody before he could set any more fires,” Mowbray said. “Their fast, coordinated response prevented further danger to the community.”
The 26000 block of Three Notch Road runs through a mixed residential and commercial area in northern St. Mary’s County just south of the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home. No injuries were reported in any of the fires.
First-degree arson in Maryland carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine when the fire is set to an occupied dwelling or creates risk to human life. Second-degree arson and first-degree malicious burning each carry potential sentences of up to 10 years and fines up to $30,000.
The investigation remains active. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Southern Regional Office of the State Fire Marshal at 410-414-3610.
