Hotel Patron Charged With Felony Arson

 

A guest of Americas Best Value Inn was arrested on arson charges March 2 in connection with a fire that damaged his hotel room.

 

James Burleigh was arrested at the scene by an investigator with the San Marcos Fire Marshal’s Office.

 

Hotel employees noticed smoke coming from a second-floor room and called 911 at 9:31 a.m. San Marcos firefighters arrived at 9:34 a.m. and extinguished the flames by 9:45 a.m.

 

The fire caused approximately $30,000 in damages but failed to spread to adjacent buildings or vehicles. No one was injured.

 

Burleigh will face a first-degree felony charge for setting a building in habitation on fire. He could receive five to 99 years in a state prison along with up to $10,000 in possible fines.