New York Man Arrested for Fire in Maine

A New York man has been arrested in connection with a fire in Vassalboro.

The State Fire Marshal's office charged the man in connection with a fire to a vacant building in Vassalboro earlier this month. 23-year-old Devaughn James from Queens, New York was arrested Friday in Chelsea and charged with two counts of arson and criminal mischief.

Fire Investigator Jeremy Damren said James is charged in connection with a fire that destroyed an unoccupied building on Whitehouse Road in Vassalboro on October 6th. The building, once a seasonal camp that had been moved to the property, was gutted by the fire. James, at the time of the fire, was staying with friends across the street.

Assisting in the investigation were Maine State Police, Augusta Police, and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The building is owned by Michael and Barbara Bickford of Vassalboro and was valued at $25,000. James was taken into custody after a car that he was traveling in was stopped by police on the Hallowell Road in Chelsea. James was taken to the Kennebec County Jail and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.