Chaffee man faces arson, burglary charges

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- A Chaffee man was arrested Tuesday afternoon and charged in connection with a weekend arson and burglary.

Anthony Siebert, 23, of 111 S. Main St., is being held in the Scott County Jail on three felony charges.

The fire, which occurred Saturday afternoon at a home on Seibert Lane in Chaffee, was caused by flammable liquids poured throughout the house, according to a fire marshal investigator. The fire was a "flash" type of fire that quickly went out on its own, the investigator said. The damage was mostly to the inside of the house.

Two days later, the residents returned home from a trip to find their home had also been burglarized. They reported numerous items had been stolen, including firearms and ammunition.

Siebert, an acquaintance of the victims, surfaced as an early suspect after police learned of a dispute he'd had at the residence a few weeks before the crimes, said Lt. Jerry Bledsoe of the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Through interviewing Seibert and piecing together what he said, police were able to find the missing items.

"He'd given us enough information that led us to recover most of the items," Bledsoe said.

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter praised the work of Bledsoe and Gregg Ourth on their investigation and retrieval of the stolen property.

Seibert is charged with arson, second-degree burglary and felony stealing and is being held on a $15,000 bond.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245