PELL CITY – A man was arrested and charged with the July 21 arson of his mobile home. Authorities identified the man as Sheldon Dale Franklin, 47, 130 Lister Drive, Pell City. He was charged with the second-degree arson of his home.
Franklin was released from jail Friday, shortly after his arrest, on a $20,000 bond.
St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles credited County Investigator Randy Hurst for solving the case and making the arrest.
“We happened to get the right information at the right time,” Surles said. “Randy did an outstanding job.”
He said the sheriff’s department received a tip that authorities needed to take a closer look at the July 21 house fire, which destroyed the double-wide mobile home Franklin resided.
Surles said the mobile home was about to go into foreclosure, and Franklin allegedly paid some people to burn his home down to collect the insurance money.
“He already received some insurance money,” Surles said.
Franklin’s son, Brandon Franklin, 26, 130 Lister Drive, Pell City, was also arrested Friday in an unrelated incident after authorities searched the Franklin’s property Friday and discovered a methamphetamine lab in a mobile home where the son resides.
The younger Franklin was arrested and charged with the unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance.
Surles said he expects the sheriff’s department to make three more arrests in connection with the July 21 arson.
“He paid some folks to burn it,” Surles said.
St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said if Franklin is convicted of second-degree arson, a Class B felony, he could serve up to 20 years in prison.
“This shows that this is not a good option or an appropriate remedy for this type of situation,” Minor said. “A criminal act never takes care of a civil problem.”
Franklin is schedule to make his initial court appearance in October.
