The owners of a Montlake Road home that burned in April have been charged with arson, officials said, and one of them may be a member of a local fire department.
James Andrew Russ, 40, and Randy Kaye Russ, 35, have been charged with arson, conspiracy to commit arson, fraudulent insurance claims and felony solicitation to commit arson, said Janice Atkinson, spokeswoman for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Both were arrested and are now in the Hamilton County Jail under $15,000 bond each, she said.
On April 16, firefighters responded to a house fire at 1625 Montlake Road. County records show that James and Randy Russ are listed as the owners of the house.
When Chief Johnathan Peterson with the Mowbray Fire Department arrived, he said the residence belonged to a member of the Mowbray Fire Department. He requested that a fire investigator with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office conduct the fire investigation.
Total loss was estimated at $131,355.