Published: May 26, 2009 08:56 am      

B’ville pair charged in apt. arson

By Sean Bailey / Staff Writer

A Barbourville man and woman have been arrested and charged in connection to a May 1 kitchen fire, started in their apartment where they were allegedly cooking meth.

Colonel Joe Golden, 32, of Bryant’s Store, was charged with first-degree arson, possession of anhydrous ammonia to manufacture meth, manufacturing meth, first-degree criminal mischief and 26 counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.

Golden was charged with 26 counts of wanton endangerment for each of the complex’s 24 occupants and the two officers who responded to the fire at the Steven Trace Apartments on May 1. According to the warrant, Golden allegedly “willfully” started the apartment fire with meth ingredients.

Heather Centers, 26, of Barbourville, was also arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for allegedly failing to “put said fire out or to call for assistance,” according to the arrest warrant.

The Steven Trace apartment where the fire started was allegedly rented by Centers.

Kentucky State Police Detective Josh Bunch noted in his citation that by not putting out the fire, Centers allegedly endangered the life of a young child.

After Barbourville firefighters put out the kitchen fire in Center’s apartment on May 1, police found components of a meth lab — including an oxygen tanking containing anhydrous ammonia, a key ingredient of meth.

Both Centers and Golden were arrested on May 7, and later released on bond.

Golden is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 2, while Centers is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 16.