Canaan Man Charged In Fire That Destroyed Mobile Home, Killed Seven Pets

The State Fire Marshal’s Office on Friday charged a local man with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed a mobile home in Canaan last September.

Matthew Short, 30, has been charged with arson, burglary and aggravated cruelty to animals, Maine Dept. of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland said in a news release.

He was arrested by investigator Jeremy Damren at his home at 759 Browns Corner Road Friday morning.

Short’s girlfriend, Sheena Moshier, 30, was also arrested at the home on unrelated charges of forgery, negotiating a worthless instrument and traffic offenses.

Both were taken to the Somerset County Jail.

The fire on Sept. 21 destroyed a mobile home on Brown’s Corner Road, not far from where the suspect lives.

No one was home at the time, but four dogs and three cats were killed in the fire.

The fire was discovered by the two residents of the mobile home, who had just returned home.

Short is being held on $50,000 bail and will likely make his first court appearance on Monday, the release said.

Moshier’s bail was set at $2,000.