BIRMINGHAM – A federal grand jury today indicted a Northwest Alabama man for arson in connection with a December fire at a Marshall Durbin office building in Haleyville, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey L. Fulton.

CHARLES WILLIAM HEAVNER JR., 43, of Hackleburg, is charged in a two-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court. The indictment charges that Heavner maliciously damaged the Marshall Durbin Field Operations Office by means of fire on Dec. 4, and that he knowingly used fire as the means to maliciously damage the poultry company’s field office.

“Trying to burn down a building is a serious and dangerous crime,” Vance said. “In this instance, only quick action prevented terrible damage to property and potential loss of life.”

The maximum sentence for both arson counts is 35 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The ATF, Alabama State Fire Marshal, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Winston County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Whisonant Sr. is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

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