An 18-year-old Jasper High School student is facing an arson charge after police say he started a fire inside the school's wood shop during active school hours, putting hundreds of students and staff members in danger. The arrest came nearly two months after the fire, with Jasper police taking the teen into custody on October 30 and booking him into the Jasper County Jail.
According to KFDM, the investigation began Thursday, September 3, when Jasper ISD police officers were notified that a student had allegedly started the fire inside the wood shop. The outlet reports the fire broke out during active school hours while hundreds of students occupied adjacent classrooms and shop areas within the Career and Technology Building at 400 Bulldog Avenue.
KFDM identifies the arrested student as 18-year-old Jasper High School senior Marquis McNeal, who it reports was arrested October 30. However, KTRE reports that the student's name has not been released, leaving conflicting accounts of the teen's identity in the public record.
How Investigators Built the Case
Jasper High School administrators worked closely with police during the investigation, which the KFDM report says resulted in the identification of the student allegedly responsible. Jasper ISD Police Chief Joshua Hadnot said the student's actions created an extremely dangerous situation with the potential to place hundreds of students and staff members in serious danger, per the same account.
Once investigators identified the 18-year-old student, Jasper ISD police presented the case to City of Jasper Municipal Court Judge Robert Jackson for a probable-cause review. The report notes Judge Jackson determined that probable cause existed, and an arrest warrant was issued for arson under the Texas Penal Code.
Arrest, Booking and Possible Penalties
On October 30, the Jasper Police Department arrested the student and transported him to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office for processing, the outlet's report states. He had since been released on bond by the time of the KFDM report.
Because the alleged arson involved a school campus, the charge is a second-degree felony, and if convicted, the student could face two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, according to KFDM. The dossier's supplied excerpt of the Texas Penal Code's arson chapter does not include the statutory language needed to independently confirm that classification.
District Response
The Jasper ISD Police Department said it appreciated the cooperation and assistance of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, the Jasper Police Department, and the City of Jasper Municipal Court throughout the investigation. The department added that it remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of Jasper ISD students, staff members, and visitors, noting that effective school-based law enforcement relies on strong partnerships among local agencies, as reported by KFDM.
