Bath homeowner charged with arson 5/7/2009 11:37 PM
By KAREN DAILY Staff writer
A Bath man has been jailed for arson on allegations he set fire to his home in mid-April with the intent of collecting insurance money, according to investigators.
Clyde James Hendley II, 31, of the 100 block of Front Street, is charged with second-degree arson.
Aiken County Sheriff's Office investigators said the man has filed a claim with his insurance company, which will conduct a separate fraud investigation. The criminal investigation was conducted by Sheriff's Office investigators with the assistance of South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agents.
"We believe he tried to burn his house down by setting his couch on fire," said Clay Adams, Sheriff's Office arson investigator.
The Bath Fire Department chief was unable to determine the cause of the fire during his preliminary investigations and contacted local investigators.
The chief said he contacted Hendley minutes after the fire started, but the owner never returned to the residence. A neighbor told investigators she saw Hendley leave the house shortly before the deputy arrived.
Bath firefighters were able to extinguish the fire quickly before the single-story wood frame home was destroyed, Adams said.
"Due to their fast response, evidence that we needed to conduct our investigation was saved," he added.
Once firefighters ruled out the possibility of the fire being accidental, investigators reported finding that a couch in the home was intentionally set on fire.
SLED assisted local investigators with an accelerant-sniffing K-9, but officials said it was unlikely that accelerant was used.
No one was in the residence when the fire was set.
Hendley surrendered to Aiken County Sheriff's Office deputies Wednesday. He is awaiting trial for a charge of receiving stolen goods; however, investigators did not report finding stolen items in the home.
Contact Karen Daily at kdaily@aikenstandard.com.
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Comment Title: stop assuming and accusing
Yeah i would like to know how someone is inocent until proven guilty bc it doesnt seem like thats the case! Everyone is assuming this man did something wrong just bc its in the paper and hes smiling in his mug shot! Maybe he was happy bc he knew he was innocent n would be out the next day!!!! Who knows! But then again this dude may go to jail and take over big Bubba and everyone thats talking bad about him... just watch out when he gets out!!!
Posted by: On: 5/15/2009
Comment Title:
The Aiken Standard sure knows how to make someone look bad before they get the whole story. They need to get there story staight and quit making people look guilty.
Posted by: Bruce On: 5/9/2009
Comment Title:
He looks like he will be right at home in the slammer with big Bubba.
Posted by: On: 5/8/2009
Comment Title: Furious
So what,he's smiling in his mugshot.Is that a crime?Most people can't smile in their mugshots because they're so cracked out they don't know whats going on.This young man is getting hit from every direction...Radio,Online, Newspaper, this is insane. What happen to "INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY"? Young man be strong.
Posted by: On: 5/8/2009
Comment Title: Clearwater Chief
You want to post this about the Bath guy but why didnt you post about the Clearwater Fire Chief getting arrested on assault charges. Maybe it's because Sheriff Hunt is the Assistant Chief of Clearwater Fire Department!!!!
Posted by: On: 5/8/2009
Comment Title: Arson tippie-toe libel
Scary, you're right. What is that concept--innocent until proven guilty? Why is the Aiken Standard posting this man's picture on every street corner for the ignorant to make fun of. Come to think of it, why is the Standard placed in newspaper boxes around the city? It looks to me like it should be placed on the supermarket shelves alongside other publications of like mind--"People," and the "National Enquirer," for example.
Posted by: On: 5/8/2009
Comment Title:
smiling faces...scary
Posted by: On: 5/7/2009
Comment Title: BATH MAN SETS FIRE TO HIS HOME
By looking at his mug shot, he looks like he's proud of what he did. Scum Bag.
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