A man charged in connection with a number of suspicious fires throughout Wellington County will appear in court again next month.
Justin Nicholas Johnathon Beal, 28, of Guelph-Eramosa, has been charged with seven counts of arson.
He was in court on Feb. 28 and again on April 3. The pretrial was adjourned to June 4 to allow the defence to review disclosure documents.
On Aug. 7 he appeared in court and his matter will again be in court on Sept. 18 “to be spoken to.”
Between October 2017 and January 2018, Beal was charged with arson in relation to seven suspicious fires.
From September 2016 to August 2017, Wellington County OPP and fire officials responded to a number fires, most of which were in abandoned rural homes and buildings.
A “multi-jurisdictional” team consisting of police and fire officials and the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office investigated a total of 18 blazes.
Beal was charged in relation to the following fires:
- – Oct. 14, 2016 house fire at 5230 Third Line, Guelph-Eramosa;
- – Oct. 19, 2016 house fire at 5292 Third Line, Guelph-Eramosa;
- – Dec. 5, 2016 barn fire at 7070 Fife Road in Guelph-Eramosa;
- – Feb. 3, 2017 shed fire at 6873 Highway 7 Guelph-Eramosa;
- – Feb, 3, 2017 house and barn fire at 5413 Township Road 3, Guelph-Eramosa;
- – June 25, 2017 shed fire at 5324 Wellington Road 125, Erin; and
- – June 25, 2017 house fire 8813 Sideroad 27, Erin.
