Saturday, July 26, 1997
Arson suspect under investigation for similar
crimes in Abilene
By TANYA EISERER / /Abilene Reporter-News
An Abilene man suspected of setting fire to two local Skinny's
convenience stores was charged Friday in Tom Green County with
a similar arson which occurred near San Angelo.
Leslie Melson, 53, was held in the Tom Green County Jail in
lieu of $50,000 bond, charged with arson. He is accused in the
July 15 burglary-arson of the Rainbow Center convenience store
in Christoval, south of San Angelo.
Melson is also a suspect in a string of arsons and burglaries
in Tom Green, Taylor and Howard counties, investigators said.
Abilene Asst. Fire Marshal Lt. Henry Davila said it appears
Melson torched the stores, in some instances, to cover up the
theft of lottery tickets.
In all six cases, a suspect or suspects apparently used chains
tied to a pickup truck to yank the front doors open to gain entry.
All six occurred during early morning hours at fairly isolated
stores.
Tom Green County Det. Steve Mild, working with Taylor County
Sheriff's Det. Veda Monroe and Davila, searched Melson's home
in the 1200 block of Sycamore Friday morning.
"We're going to try to tie this guy in with our arsons
and burglaries, hopefully, through the lottery tickets,"
Davila said. "He is definitely a suspect."
During the search, investigators said they they found gas cans
and chains that Melson is believed to have used in the Christoval
burglary-arson, and possibly, in the Abilene fires and burglaries.
Davila said he believes Melson probably torched and burglarized
the Skinny's No. 39 on Farm-to-Market 18 on May 29 and the Skinny's
No. 43 at 4142 S. Clack on June 10.
Investigators were unable to determine if lottery tickets were
stolen from the two local Skinny's stores because of the damage,
Davila said.
Monroe said Melson is also a "likely candidate" in
a June 28 burglary of the Chevron convenience store at Lawn, in
which more than $2,000 worth of lottery tickets were stolen. A
witness has identified what is believed to be Melson's vehicle
at the scene of that break-in, she said.
Melson may also be linked to a pair of July 23 burglaries -
one in Tom Green County and one in Howard County, she said.
"We feel confident it's the same guy because of the way
the crime was committed," Davila said. "Too many things
are identical."
Detectives got their first lucky break when a security camera
captured Melson on videotape burglarizing the Christoval store
and setting it afire, according to Tom Green County Sgt. Larry
Counts, a criminal investigation division investigator. .
"The security camera recorded this guy coming into the
store and walking behind the counter," Counts said. The video,
shown on television stations in the San Angelo area, clearly shows
Melson grabbing the lottery dispenser and tickets, he said.
Counts said the video then shows the suspect taking a five-gallon
paint can and pouring gasoline on the store's counter tops and
floor.
"You can see where he strikes the matches and throws them
down" to ignite the fire, Counts said.
Minutes later, a <I>San Angelo Standard-Times<I>
newspaper carrier discovered the arson, the sergeant said.
"(Firefighters) got it out before (the fire) could destroy
the videotape," Counts said.
A second break came when Melson was videotaped cashing stolen
lottery tickets in another Abilene store, Counts added.
Counts said a store clerk at an H-E-B supermarket in Abilene
told San Angelo-based Texas Ranger Joe Hunt that Melson was the
man who cashed in the lottery tickets.
If convicted of arson in the Christoval fire, Melson could
face between two and 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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