Man Accused of Setting Fires Near Mississippi School

Jackson County sheriff’s investigators have arrested a man and charged him with arson for allegedly setting two separate fires near a Vancleave school.

Sheriff Mike Byrd tells The Mississippi Press that Ronald Martin Goszdax of Vancleave was charged Sunday with two counts of arson.

On Friday afternoon, Byrd says Vancleave Volunteer firefighters responded to a call about a woods fire behind Vancleave Upper Elementary school.

On Saturday morning, Byrd says a deputy driving by the school, spotted smoke from a second fire.

Goszdax’s bail was set at $5,000 for each arson charge Tuesday, but Byrd said Goszdax would not be released from the Jackson County Adult Detention Center on bail until he pays several old fines.

It was not clear whether Goszdax has an attorney.