A Texas man is accused of hiring an individual to set fire to a building he owned in Ottumwa.
52-year-old Mark Nguyen of Killeen, Texas has been charged with aiding and abetting first-degree arson, first-degree criminal mischief, and possession of incendiary materials.
Court records say Nguyen paid or offered to pay a person to commit arson to a commercial building at 1317 East Main Street. On July 5, police say the hired individual started a fire inside the building with the intent of destroying it. The fire caused an estimated $10,000 in damages.
A warrant for Nguyen’s arrest was issued on July 25 and he was taken into custody on August 27.
Nguyen is currently in the Wapello County Jail where he is being held on a $25,000 cash-only bond.
Nguyen has a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 5.
