W’burg man charged in Stringtown Road blazes

 A Williamsburg man is facing an arson charge in connection with fires on Stringtown Road.

Whitley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tim Baker charged Estel Dewayne Leach, 20, of 370 Stringtown Road, with second-degree arson on May 21. He was arrested about 3:30 p.m. on at his residence.

During the course of the investigation, Leach’s name came up several times, Baker wrote on the arrest citation.

On May 18, Baker received a written statement from a concerned person, who reported that Leach allegedly told him that he had burned two locations on Stringtown Road to get scrap out of them and possibly so he could get paid to clean them up, Baker wrote.

Leach pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment Thursday in Whitley District Court.

Leach is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond. If he posts bond, he will be required to wear an ankle-monitoring device as part of his bond conditions.