Convicted Arsonist Headed to Prison

DAYTON – Dayton man Brandon John, 31, was arrested in Clarkston Saturday on a felony warrant out of Columbia County after he walked away from court-mandated treatment following his December conviction of second-degree arson.

John, who was arrested by Columbia County deputies in August on suspicion of lighting several wildfires in Columbia County, took a plea agreement and was sentenced to a year and a day with credit for time already served in jail awaiting trial.

Now he will serve the remainder of his sentence in state prison, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrested John on Aug. 18 after statements were taken by John’s girlfriend and another male incriminating John in two suspected arsons on Pettyjohn Grade and Robinette Mountain that same morning.

Statements from local firefighters indicated they had seen a red 2005 Pontiac Sunfire, owned by John’s girlfriend, at the scene of other suspicious fires that summer, according to court documents.

John was driving this same vehicle that Monday afternoon when deputies pulled him over near the Pettyjohn Grade fire and took him into custody.