Louisiana Man Convicted in House Fire

A Louisiana man, caught backing out of the driveway of a flaming house with a burned thumb and a bottle of gasoline on the floorboard of his BMW, was convicted of aggravated arson by a St. Tammany Parish jury.

The Times-Picayune reports Carl Anthony Duperon, 55, faces up to 20 years in prison.

Police had charged that in June 2011, Duperon set a small fire on the backside of a Slidell house. A woman inside escaped injury.

A passer-by called Slidell police to report the fire.

Officers said they arrived to find Duperon backing out of the home’s driveway.

Duperon denied setting the fire. He was convicted this past week and sentencing is set for Feb. 23.

Assistant District Attorney Ken Dohre said no motive was ever established.