A couple is facing arson charges after they allegedly set multiple fires on land owned by others near their home in Leesville in what was supposedly an effort to drive away snakes.
34-year-old Laura Ashley has been arrested and 34-year-old Robert Ramirez is on the run. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain said it was an incredibly dangerous decision.
“There is a lot of material on the ground as a result of the hurricanes, across the state more than a million acres of down timber, and with the recent freeze there is a lot of dead vegetation,” said Strain.
Ashley has been charged with simple arson and investigators learned that Ramirez had also set multiple fires in the area last year.
“Setting fires, quote, to get rid of snakes is just a really, really bad idea. Arson is a crime,” said Strain, who adds some of the fires set were on neighbor’s property.
Strain said if you have a snake problem, instead of committing a felony try cleaning up your yard to remove places for snakes to stay, and laying out mothballs.
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