A Houston man who allegedly hired three others to set a fire at the West Point Stockyard was arrested Thursday by Clay County deputies.
Billy Aron, 56, was charged with second degree arson.
Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said Aron allegedly hired three suspects to set the stockyard fire. The three suspects Aron allegedly hired to set the fire are Thomas E. Williams, 72, of Pheba, his son Jason Williams, 42, of Mason, and Daniel Easley, 38, of Oktibbeha County. Thomas Williams was arrested Monday and was released from the Clay County Jail the same day after posting a $100,000 bond. Jason Williams and Easley were both arrested last week and are still in custody on $50,000 bonds.
All three are accused of two arsons — the stockyard fire in November and another fire which burned a rental home in western Clay County in May, Scott said.
Aron is the fifth suspect arrested in Clay County on arson charges in the last two weeks. Scott said investigators do not yet know why Aron allegedly hired the three suspects to set the stockyard fire.
Last week, deputies also arrested Michael Tribble, 54, of Cedar Bluff, who is accused of hiring Thomas Williams, Jason Williams and Easley to burn the rental home. Tribble owned the home he was renting out to tenants and allegedly hired the suspects to burn it for insurance money, Scott said.
No one was injured in the fire, but the renters lost their belongings, Scott said.
The November fire Aron is accused of setting is still under investigation and anyone with information should contact CCSO at 662-494-2896 or the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 800-530-7151.
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