By: ELIZABETH WEST
Associate Editor
Last Thursday Patraveyanna George appeared before 13th Judicial District Judge Gary Ortego for her arraignment.
George was arrested on April 29, 2016 after becoming a suspect in the April 21st burning of the Dupre House, located at the corner of South Dupre and Main Street in Ville Platte.
The 19-year-old became a suspect after Deputy State Fire Marshal Roman Ray gathered information from a witness who supposedly was with George when the fire was started.
During Ray’s investigations, text messages were revealed by the witness from George. One message read, “Please I don’t want to go to jail or you or ruin our friendship I’m scared I should of never lied to you but I needed a place to stay. I didn’t mean to burn the house it was just a joke,” while another read, “Please delete these text messages.”
According to the affidavit prepared by Ray the witness explained that the fire began at the 77-year old house after George dropped a lit candle. The candle then rolled under a couch that was located in the area of the house where investigators believe the fire was started.
On April 29th, George was booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail and charged with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and simple arson.
During her arraignment, George entered a plea of not guilty, and her trial date was set for September 19, 2016.
George’s case will be heard in Evangeline Parish’s Division A courtroom by Judge Ortego.