RICHMOND, Texas – The Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest of an arson suspect accused of setting fire to a probation office.
The announcement was made during a news conference Wednesday afternoon
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Andrew Huwar, 29, was identified as the suspect and charged with arson. Huwar was already on probation for a stalking charge in 2020, according to the DA’s Office.
What happened
According to Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Justin Jurek, the Community Volunteer Fire Department was dispatched to 19310 Beechnut St. in Richmond in the evening hours of April 4 for a possible structure fire at the Fort Bend County Road and Bridge Facility.
The Community Volunteer Fire Department arrived and requested for an investigator from the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s Office to help determine the origin and cause.
Fire investigators determined the location to be a satellite office for the Fort Bend County Community Supervision and Corrections Department and the fire was intentionally set, according to the release.
The arson suspect was identified as Huwar. An arrest warrant was issued and he was taken into custody on May 25.
Huwar was booked into the Fort Bend County Jail, where his bond was set at $250,000
“This is a case of thorough detective work and the arrest occurred primarily because of the investigative skills the Fire Marshal developed in their agency,” said District Attorney Brian Middleton. “There are arsons they investigate in Fort Bend County that would go uninvestigated and unprosecuted in other counties. The fire investigators went beyond establishing the probable cause that supported the arrest warrant, conducting additional searches and interviews, that led to important evidence.”
Records damaged in fire
According to the DA’s Office, while the physical damage to county property was significant, the fire also damaged records and displaced probation officers who are public servants and court officers. Probation officers work toward the rehabilitation of people charged with or convicted of crimes in our community.
“Through the cooperative relationship with the Fire Marshal’s Office, both of our offices are stronger,” added Middleton. “And that makes our communities safer.”