Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hope Man Charged With Arson Of Davidson Residence

An arrest has been made in the arson of the John Davidson home off U.S. 67 between Prescott and Emmet.

David Neely, 42, of Hope was arrested and charged with arson, residential burglary and theft of property.

According to court records, Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell called Arkansas State Police investigator Scott Clark to the scene on Jan. 17, to help investigate a suspicious fire.

The fire had been reported by a motorist on Highway 67, who saw it from the road.

A red plastic fuel container was found in the yard at the scene, but the owner refused to give authorities permission to search through the remains.

A search warrant was obtained on Jan. 22, with Clark talking to Don Mitchell, brother-in-law to Davidson, on Jan. 24. Mitchell, the records state, had been in touch with Jerrol Taylor, who was allegedly in possession of two weapons reported stolen from the Davidson home the morning of the fire.

Taylor was questioned at the Prescott Police Department and, records state, told officers Neely had stolen the weapons and set the fire.

Allegedly, Neely had a relationship with Davidson's ex-wife and was upset because she had resumed a relationship with Davidson again.

According to Taylor, Neely asked him to go with him when he burned the house, but Taylor refused.

Davidson identified the weapons Taylor had as his.

Arson is a class Y felony, carrying a sentence of 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Residential burglary is a class B felony, with a sentence of 5 to 20 years and fine up to $15,000, while theft of property is a class C felony. Punishment for this crime is 3 to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.