A 65-year-old San Antonio man is facing an arson charge after investigators said a backyard pit fire he set in October spread to a neighbor’s house and racked up roughly $150,000 in damage. The Oct. 19, 2025 blaze was limited to a bathroom and the attic, according to officials, but it still chewed up part of the roof at the adjoining home. Court records identify the man as Shawn Richard Coffey.
An arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT accuses Coffey of starting the fire in the 3600 block of Candlehead Lane and says investigators traced the origin back to his backyard. The arrest comes months after the October blaze, following a review of the case and the filing of the affidavit. Fire investigators told the affidavit they were able to confine the flames to a bathroom and the attic, but still pegged the damage at about $150,000.
The document quotes Coffey saying he had a "fire pit" in his yard but insisting he had not used it on the day of the fire. A woman staying on his property told investigators they sometimes burned trash in the pit, according to the affidavit, and Coffey allegedly cut in, "But not today." Court records also state that a neighbor reported smelling burning plastic coming from Coffey’s property the night before the Oct. 19 fire, and the affidavit says Coffey later acknowledged he understood he could be held liable for the damage. KSAT reviewed the filings.
Bexar County has been operating under restrictions on outdoor burning this year as officials warned that dry conditions increase wildfire risk and that unauthorized burning can trigger fines or criminal charges. Texas Public Radio reported that county leaders extended a burn ban amid high fire danger in late October 2025.
Legal implications
Arson is charged under Texas Penal Code §28.02, which makes it an offense to start a fire or cause an explosion that damages property such as a building or habitation. Justia notes that Texas law generally treats arson as a serious felony. When the property that is intended to be damaged is a habitation, prosecutors can seek a first-degree charge.
Under state sentencing statutes, convictions for first-degree felonies carry a prison range of five to 99 years, or life, and fines up to $10,000. Justia cites Texas Penal Code §12.32 for those penalties.
The case remains under investigation by the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office and county prosecutors, and charging documents show investigators relied on witness interviews and on-scene findings to connect the fire to Coffey’s property. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue heightened charges as the case moves through the county system.
