A Columbus man has been charged with arson, according to Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins.
On Sept. 28 at 7:45 p.m. deputies responded to the 5000 block of Jess Lyons Road for a house fire. When they arrived, they found the house was fully engulfed in flames, Hawkins said.
The house was vacant, and nobody was supposed to be on the property. Deputies found Marty Atkins, 60, of Columbus, in the area. He allegedly admitted to deputies that he started the fire, according to Hawkins.
“He went in with plans to stay in it,” Hawkins said. “He didn’t have permission, he just did it.”
He told deputies that he started the fire outside and it spread, Hawkins said.
“The evidence says otherwise,” Hawkins said. “The fire started inside the house.”
The house burned to the ground.
Atkins was arrested and charged with arson and trespassing.
He is currently in custody at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center. Bond has not been set as of press time.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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