Published 12:00 am Monday, September 9, 2013
Authorities said a Mahaffey Drive woman was charged with burning her neighbor’s camper.
Crystal Alene Dill Shultz, 25, of the 300 block of Mahaffey Drive, Salisbury, was charged with felony arson/attempting to burn a dwelling or other buildings. The incident occurred Aug. 29 and Shultz was charged Saturday.
Rowan Sheriff’s Office deputies said in a department report when they arrived at the Mahaffey Drive home there was a small fire in the front yard.
The victim, Terry Kesler, also of the 300 block of Mahaffey Drive, told investigators the camper belonged to his sister, but he was staying in it. The officer noted Kesler appeared intoxicated.
An investigator from the Fire Marshal’s Office said the fire was intentionally set near the front door of the camper.
A witness told investigators they saw Shultz just before the fire, the report said.
The camper was destroyed, an arrest warrant for Shultz said.
A motive is not clear, but the report said Kesler has had issues with neighbors. Neighbors told investigators Kesler plays his music too loud and had been in a constant feud with nearby residents.
Shultz is currently on probation following a July 2012 conviction of misdemeanor offenses including harassing/threatening language on a phone, misuse of the 911 system and second-degree trespass.