Ten volunteer Robeson County firefighters arrested, accused of setting fires in woods, abandoned structures

ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WMBF) - Ten Robeson County volunteer firefighters were arrested after allegedly being involved in a two-year conspiracy to set a number of fires in Robeson County, according to the Robeson County Sheriff's Office.

A press release from the RCSO stated the firefighters were taken into custody Tuesday after a one-year investigation revealed 90 arson-related charges.

Those arrested volunteered with the Orrum Fire Department and Fairmont Rural Fire Department.

Robeson County Sheriff, Kenneth Sealey, said the volunteer firefighters set a blaze grass, wooded areas and abandoned homes in different parts of the Fairmont Community.

"It's a sad day when you have a law enforcement officer or firefighter or EMS person when we are out here serving the public, working for the public and we get out and do these kinds of things," Sealey said.

Steve Johnson lives a few feet from the Orrum Volunteer Fire Department. Johnson said he knows many of the firefighters who volunteer at the department, but does not recognize any of the people arrested. Still, he said the community is stunned by the situation.

"I mean it's shocking and surprising, but I pray that the guys I know had nothing to do with it. I trust they didn't," Johnson said. "But I mean they're needing volunteers, there's a lot of things going on so it surprises me that it even happened."

Sealey did not comment on the motive, but said the volunteer firefighters would set the fire and then put them out. One firefighter arrested was a former Maxton Police Officer. Another one used to be a North Carolina Correctional Officer.

While no one was hurt in the fires, Sealy said the volunteer firefighters costs residents hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

"And you know what's sad about it is what it caused the tax payers and what It caused the land owners for the homes that were burned and the land and woods that were burned and what it caused the tax payers to run the trucks up and down the road," Sealey said.

According to authorities, the following people arrested and charged Tuesday are:

• Melquan Williams, 21, of Fairmont, NC, and a former Maxton police officer - charged with felony arson and conspiracy - bond set at $200,000
• Austin Seth Hunt, 23, of Rowland, NC - charged with six counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; two counts of felony arson; and five counts of conspiracy - bond set at $200,000
• Ashley Marie Oxendine, 18, of Orrum, NC - charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; and two counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• John Austin Huggins, 17, of Fairmont, NC - charged two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; two counts of felony arson; and four counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• Jordan Scott, 19, of Fairmont, NC - charged with four counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; five counts of felony arson; and nine counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• Kenny Caulder Jr., 19, of Fairmont, NC - charged with six counts of felony arson; two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; and seven counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• Willie Fuentes Strickland, 42, of Fairmont, NC - charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; one count of felony arson; and three counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• Jordan Emmanuel Hunt, 18, of Fairmont, NC - charged with four counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; and 12 counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• Shellia Huggins, 19, of Fairmont, NC - charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; two counts of felony arson; and four counts of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000
• William Kendall Strickland, 18, of Fairmont, NC - charged with one count of misdemeanor larceny; one count of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods; and one count of felony conspiracy - bond set at $100,000

The locations of the fires they're accused of setting, according to the RCSO, are:

• Eldorado Rd., Fairmont, NC
• Collins Mill Rd., Fairmont, NC
• Oakton Church Rd., Fairmont, NC
• Atkinson Road, Fairmont, NC
• Raynham Road, Fairmont, NC
• Reva Road, Fairmont, NC
• NC Highway 130, Fairmont, NC
• Main Street, Fairmont, NC
• Mitchell Rd., Fairmont, NC
• Davis Road, Fairmont, NC
• Happy Hill Road, Fairmont, NC
• Marion Stage Road, Fairmont, NC
• Pleasant Hope Road, Fairmont, NC

Sealey said multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in these investigations. More arrests and charges are expected. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call Lt. Kevin Graham at 910-671-3100.

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