CLEARFIELD – A man accused of arson waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Jeremy S. Dixon faces charges of: arson and related offenses (two counts), burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit arson and related offenses, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
According to court records the state police were called to investigate a fire on May 15, 2009 in Mahaffey. The fire consumed the structure. Investigators found multiple starting points for the fire, including two bedrooms, the first floor living room and a laundry room in the basement. Police also discovered that the basement door was unlocked.
On May 18, 2009 police interviewed one of the tenants. She informed police that she had left for Las Vegas on May 11, 2009 and returned on May 15, 2009. She was notified of the fire by a friend. She said over 200 DVDs were missing, as well as a number of Playstation games. She was also asked about a 52 inch flat-screen television that was not found in the remains as well.
On May 25, 2009, found the location of the 52 inch flat-screen. Police were told that Dixon bought it from “a guy.” Troopers were also informed of Dixon’s whereabouts.
Dixon was interviewed that day. He said he purchased the television for $125 plus his old television. He said he asked the guy he bought it from if it was hot, and he was told it was. Dixon told police that he had heard that a house burned down and that the guy he bought the television from had done it. He also told police that he heard the guy was selling DVDs. He began to put together a written statement when troopers noted that Dixon wrote something down that he did not relate to them during their interview, that he dropped the guy off at a stop sign in Mahaffey.
He rewrote his statement, this time saying that he took the guy to get the television and DVDs. They parked near the house and he said the guy came out with the television. He said the guy went back in and came back with a garbage bag full of DVDs. Dixon told police that he looked at the house and saw a room on fire. He said the guy gave him an explanation as to why. He told police that the guy did not want the television, so Dixon gave him $250 for it.
Troopers spoke with another person who related that the guy told them that Dixon stole the television and DVDs. The guy also reportedly told this person that both he and Dixon smashed up the house and burned it.