Fayetteville man denied bond after allegedly setting fire to home with girlfriend, 5 children inside
A man wanted for setting his girlfriend's mobile home on fire while five children were inside is behind bars in Cumberland County.
Patrick James turned himself in on Monday after being on the run since the fire happened on March 30 at a mobile home park on Kenbrian Street.
James' first court appearance was on Tuesday morning.
All that's left of the mobile home site are the steps that used to lead to the door. The home completely burned to the ground.
James faces multiple charges, including arson and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder. That's because on the night authorities said he set the home on fire, his girlfriend, her sister and his girlfriend's five children were inside the home.
During testimony in court Tuesday morning, the investigator told the judge that James and his girlfriend got into a fight. At some point, James poured rubbing alcohol on a mattress and set it on fire. He left while the other two adults in the home scrambled to get the children. They all made it out alive.
"That's the biggest point," said Sgt. Mickey Locklear with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office. "A life could have been lost. We're very thankful that it wasn't. Especially with children because at that point of chaos ... it could have ended up bad for them."
James, 41, had hoped that his girlfriend would speak on his behalf so that he would get a lower bond and get out of jail. However, his girlfriend left before the case was called and the judge said based on the seriousness of the crime and the defendant's criminal history, James would remain in jail without bond.
James' girlfriend told WRAL News that she and her five children have been staying with family.
James is due back in court on Aug. 15.
