A Steuben County home was destroyed by fire Monday night, and a 21-year-old Arkport man is now facing felony charges.
New York State Police say Jayden Cain was arrested Monday following a domestic dispute and subsequent arson investigation at a home on County Route 46 in the town of Dansville.
Troopers were called to the residence around 10:50 p.m. after a neighbor reported loud yelling and requested a welfare check. When they arrived, troopers found the house filled with heavy smoke and flames. They entered the home to ensure it was unoccupied, then exited due to the intensity of the fire. The house was later declared a total loss.
Cain was found hiding in a shed on the property and, according to investigators, admitted to intentionally setting the fire using gasoline. He was taken into custody without incident.
Earlier that evening, police say Cain had forcibly taken a victim’s phone and damaged it during a domestic dispute.
Cain was charged with arson, a Class C felony, and criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. He was processed and taken to the Steuben County Jail to await arraignment.
No injuries were reported, and the home was unoccupied at the time of the fire. The investigation remains ongoing.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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