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Charles Jayron Newswanger, of New Holland, has been charged along with Christopher Adam Good, 23, of Annville, and Jonathan Lynn Yoder, 18, of Narvon for setting fire to the barn located in the 200 block of Bridgeville Road at 2:25 a.m., police explained in a new release on the case on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
The building contained hay, a 2005 John Deere harvester, and a 2004 John Deere tractor, according to police at the time of the incident.
The fire endangered the lives of 115 firefighters from 15 departments, who battled the blaze for nearly six hours, police said.
Newswanger has been charged with four felonies; Criminal Conspiracy Engaging - Arson-Danger Of Death Or Bodily Injury, Causing Catastrophe, Arson-Danger Of Death Or Bodily Injury, and Agricultural Vandalism, court records show.
He was arraigned Saturday, August 20, and has been held in the Lancaster County Prison after he failed to post $25,000 bail, police say and court records confirm.
His preliminary hearing has been scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan W. Heisse at 1:30 p.m. on August 31, according to his latest court docket.
Newswanger has a lengthy court record for such a young person including four guilty pleas for traffic violations with charges such as speeding and improper use. One notable charge on his record shows he previously pleaded guilty and was serving one-year probation for strangulation in connection with a domestic abuse incident in June 2020 until recently he was on probation for this as the sentence was imposed after the arson in June 2021, according to court documents.
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