Police: teen set person on fire

NATURAL BRIDGE — A teenager poured dry gas on a man early Sunday at a house party here, then set the victim on fire, Lewis County sheriff's deputies allege.

Logan M. Moore, 16, of 43971 Church St., is charged with first-degree assault.

The victim, Robert Graves, 22, Natural Bridge, suffered first- and second-degree burns. He was treated at Carthage Area Hospital and released.

The youth was arrested Tuesday — his third arrest in four months — on a warrant issued in Lewis County Court, and was sent to Lewis County jail, Lowville, with bail set at $15,000 by County Judge Charles C. Merrell. He awaits grand jury action.

Deputy Philip K. Turck said there were four other males at the party on Old State Road in the town of Diana. Although no other charges are anticipated, he said the investigation is continuing. There was alcohol involvement, he said.

There was no fight, he said, but he alleged that the teenager had been "picking on" Mr. Graves much of the night. He had two times earlier poured dry gas on Mr. Graves's pants and sweatshirt and burned his forehead with a cigarette butt, Deputy Turck said. Mr. Graves was shirtless when his flesh was ignited at about 3:30 a.m.

Witnesses doused the flames with water, and they drove both the victim and his alleged assailant to their homes. Mr. Graves got into a bathtub to ease the pain on his right side and later in the morning was convinced that he should go to the hospital, the deputy said.

In July, Mr. Moore and another person were charged by state police after the words "I'm coming for you" were painted on the hood of a man's car. He was cited with aggravated harassment, fourth-degree criminal mischief and making graffiti, with the case returnable to town of Wilna Court.

An arrest Sept. 20, also by state police, has him facing second-degree counts of assault and reckless endangerment, which await action by the Jefferson County grand jury. During a fight at a town of Champion residence, he hit a man on the head with a vodka bottle, troopers alleged.

After each of those arrests, he was released from jail on bail: $1,000 after one day in July, and $5,000 after five days of incarceration in September.