Casper Police Arrest Man Wanted for Arson, Attempted Murder in Gillette

Investigators say last weekend's fire at a Gillette motel, was started by a Casper man angry with a woman he had smoked methamphetamine with.

Fifty-eight year old James Pearson was arrested Wednesday, September 10th on suspicion of aggravated arson and attempted first degree murder.

He is expected to appear in court Friday.

Court documents say Pearson and the woman smoked methamphetamine together and he wanted her to have sex with him in return.

She refused and Pearson allegedly came to her room and said "no one is going to walk away from this without being paid."

Following Sunday's fire at the Rodeway Inn, evidence of petroleum products were found in several spots.

The heaviest concentrations of the accelerant were found on the third floor and outside the woman's room.