Gastonia police charge man with setting fire to home with woman inside

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — (AP) — Police have charged a North Carolina man with intentionally setting fire to a home while a woman was inside.

Gastonia police said Desmond Ray Hunter, 64, of Bessemer City, used an accelerant to start the fire shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday.

The Gaston Gazette reported that Hunter is accused of lighting the back of the house on fire, which caused about $10,000 in damage to the rear porch, back door and exterior wall and roof.

Officials said the woman wasn’t hurt, and the fire didn’t spread to the rest of the house.

Police charged Hunter with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree arson.

He was booked in Gaston County Jail early Sunday and is being held without bond.

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