West Virginia enforcement officials formally indicted a Raleigh County man this week on a charge of first degree arson and insurance fraud after allegedly setting fire to his former residence.
Officials arrested Andrew B. Halstead, 51, of Prosperity, W. Va., on May 4 for allegedly burning down his then Wyoming County home in September 2005 and filing an insurance claim for damages that were deemed a total loss.
“Insurance fraud cases are very complex in nature and those involved in committing such illegal acts are typically involved in other types of crime as well,” said Insurance Commissioner, Jane L. Cline.
Halstead, who was out on bond for a pending second degree murder charge in Wyoming County at the time of the fire, was indicted on Oct.1. No trial date has been set.
If convicted, Halstead faces a sentence of two to 20 years in prison on the arson charge and one to 10 years on the insurance fraud charge. The insurance fraud charge also carries the possible fine of up to $10,000.
Source: Office of the Insurance Commissioner of West Virginia
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