Arson case waived to grand jury
Published 8:10 am Friday, January 12, 2018
The man charged with causing a small fire at a house with four people inside waived his case to the grand jury this week.
Jerome Horton, 39, of 403 W. Washington St., was arrested for first-degree arson Dec. 29 following the fire at Horton’s listed address.
According to Winchester Police, Horton threw a brick at a window at the residence before igniting gasoline outside. Horton fled the scene in a car driven by 32-year-old Alisha Brooks of Lexington, who has also been charged in the case.
Police followed Brooks’ vehicle until she stopped at a gas station on West Washington Street. Horton was sitting in the passenger seat, wearing only one shoe, which matched a shoe left at the scene with a gasoline can.
Horton declined to have a preliminary hearing to establish probable cause in district court. The judge also reduced Horton’s bond from $50,000 to $25,000 at 10 percent.
Brooks, who was arrested for first-degree fleeing or evading police, was set for a preliminary hearing as well, but it was postponed until Jan. 17 to allow the Department of Public Advocacy to find an attorney to represent her.