Former tenant charged with setting fire in LaFayette

LAFAYETTE, Georgia (WDEF) – Investigators have charged a former tenant with setting fire to a northwest Georgia house just after he had been evicted from it.

The fire happened last month in LaFayette on West Magnolia Street.

Walker County investigators say 34 year old Justin Curtis Rogers from Trion got into a heated argument with the owner after the eviction.

There wasn’t any power to the home at the time, so investigators ruled an accelerant was used to set the fire.

He was formally charged with first degree arson and first degree burglary over the weekend.

Rogers was already in jail at the time on unrelated charges.

Walker County officials say he has a long criminal history including drugs, theft, hit and run and fighting.