Dad charged with intentionally setting house fire--with 2-year-old son inside (Elgin, Illinois)

Dad JAMES R. BEAVERS JR. has been charged with intentionally setting a house fire with his 2-year-old son inside. Dad and the 2-year-old were the only family members at home at the time. Note that the 2-year-old was restrained in his high chair, and that Dad pushed away a firefighter to keep him from rescuing the child. Dad is also charged with resisting a police officer in the incident. Also note that Dad has an extensive criminal record and history of domestic violence. Nevertheless, we still have the obligatory "good guy" testimony from the dimwitted neighbors. Why does the press waste our time with this drivel?

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=338702

Elgin fire intentionally set, father charged
by Harry Hitzeman Daily Herald Staff
Published: 11/20/2009 9:32 PM Updated: 11/20/2009 9:43 PM

The father of the 2-year-old trapped in Thursday's house fire in Elgin has been charged with setting the blaze.

James R. Beavers Jr., 31, of the 500 block of Cumberland Trails in Elgin, has been in police custody since Thursday, when a firefighter rushed into Beavers' burning home and saved Beavers' 2-year-old son, who was restrained in his high chair.

Beavers was charged with two counts of arson, two counts of aggravated arson, aggravated resisting a police officer and two counts of obstructing a firefighter. He'll appear in court for a bond call Saturday morning.

"Mr. Beavers pushed the firefighter in an attempt to obstruct the performance of their duties," Elgin Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said.

Swoboda was unclear on how the fire started. Authorities determined that the cause was not natural, electrical or mechanical.

Elgin Fire Department Lt. Doug Wahl said the fire started on the bed of a ground-level bedroom, but he would not comment on whether any type of accelerant was used.

"Right now, we're not going to disclose that information," he said.

Wahl said the toddler and the child's father were the only two people inside the split-level home when the fire started.

One Elgin firefighter suffered from exhaustion Thursday, but other than that there were no injuries reported from the blaze, which left the home uninhabitable.

Beavers has a criminal record and has served jail time, court records show. He was sentenced to 18 months of conditional discharge for a 2002 domestic battery charge.

That same year he was sentenced to 17 months of conditional discharge and 100 hours of community service for obstructing justice/destroying evidence in an Elgin case. He was also given 23 months' probation and 34 days in jail plus domestic violence counseling for a domestic battery charge in 2005 out of Elgin.

Beavers was also convicted of multiple DUIs.

As crews boarded up the home Friday afternoon, neighbors said they were saddened by the fire and are working to gather clothing and other items for the family, which include the 2-year-old, his mom and dad, and two grandparents.

Connie and Greg Bowman have lived next door to the home for the past nine years and said the older couple that owns the home had been there since the subdivision was built about 30 years ago.

Connie Bowman said the older couple never hesitated to help their children.

"They are the most giving people. They are wonderful people," she said. "This is just a tragedy. This is just so hard. Thankfully, they have a big family and good support system."

Greg Bowman also said his neighbors were kind and generous. He recalled an instance two summers ago when he was building a backyard deck. He remembers when Beavers came over and helped with the project for six hours after a long day at work as a carpenter.

"They've been great neighbors and we love them dearly," Bowman said.

• Daily Herald staff writer Josh Stockinger contributed to this report