Man sets fire to home to halt sheriff's sale: Police

Dalmatia, Pa. — A warrant was issued Friday for a Northumberland County man who allegedly set his home on fire the day it was scheduled for a sheriff's sale.

Early the morning of June 20, firefighters responded to a a fire at the two-story home of Andrew John Souder, 35, at the 200 block of River Road in Lower Mahanoy Township. The fire was fully involved and originated on the second-floor of the home, according to the affidavit. Hickory Corners Fire Chief Ricky Spotts found out the home was up for sheriff's sale that day and decided to contact the state police fire marshal to investigate.

PSP fire marshal James Nizinski interviewed Souder at the scene, who told him he had lived at the home for the past eight years. Souder initially rented the home and then purchased it two years ago for $135,000 through a mortgage from M&T Bank. Souder told Nizinski he had fallen behind on a year's worth of payments and still owed $105,000 on the home, according to the affidavit.

Souder said the night before, he went to bed in a bedroom on the second-floor and awoke that morning to a "buzzing and popping" noise, according to court documents. When he opened his bedroom door, smoke filled the hallway and he managed to get down to the first floor and crawl out to the back porch to call 911. Souder confirmed that the house was up for sheriff's sale that day, and stated he knew it "looks bad that the house burnt down today," Nizinski wrote in the affidavit. Souder claimed he mailed a check on June 13 for $8,300 to someone in order to halt the sale. Souder wasn't able to verify who he sent the check to.

Nizinski also interviewed a neighbor, who told him that a few weeks prior Souder had made statements about a potential fire and said he'd be better off if he could make it "...look like rodents" had caused the fire, according to the affidavit. Souder also allegedly questioned the neighbor, asking if the house would burn down if a fire started in the attic.

Souder filed an insurance claim for the fire for the amount of $312,000. Nizinski also confirmed with the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office that had not received payment to halt the sheriff's sale, according to court documents.

After examining the exterior and interior of Souder's home, Nizinski ruled the fire was intentionally set.

Nizinski noted felony forgery charges were filed in January against Souder for allegedly writing more than $45,000 in fraudulent checks to his former landlord for the River Road home. Souder is scheduled on Aug. 2 for a pre-trial conference with Northumberland County Judge Paige Rosini.

Related Reading: Man accused of writing more than $45,000 in fraudulent checks

Docket sheet fraud charges

Felony arson and insurance fraud claim charges were filed at the office of District Judge Rachel Wiest-Benner in Sunbury.

Docket sheet arson