Many man arrested in connection to fires

From the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry: On August 24, 2023, investigators with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Forestry Enforcement Division and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department arrested 21-year-old Jeremiah Hill of Many, LA.

As part of an ongoing investigation into recent wildfires in Sabine Parish, investigators received information on an individual who used social media platforms to broadcast threats of arson in Sabine Parish.

On August 23, 2023, investigators obtained a warrant for three counts of communication of false information of planned arson. Hill was arrested at his residence, taken into custody without incident, and booked into the Sabine Parish Jail. A bond has not been set at this time.

Communicating false information of arson or attempted arson by mail, telephone, telegraph, word-of-mouth, or other means of communication or making threats of false information is a felony in Louisiana and carries a sentence of up to 15 years of hard labor. Investigators remind citizens to be mindful of what they post on social media in times of disaster.

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department assisted in the investigation. The Sheriff, Chief Deputy, and his investigators were an integral part of this investigation.

Note: All persons accused of any crime are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The public is urged to report any and all forestry-related crimes to the LDAF 24-hr hotline at 1-855-452-5323.