Setting toilet paper rolls on fire brings arson charge for Law. Co. inmates

Two Lawrence County Jail inmates who were already facing serious charges are each facing an additional charge of arson, after they allegedly lit several rolls of toilet paper on fire in the jail. Damon Lee Tate and Gerald Lee Gray Jr., both of Aurora, allegedly used a cigarette lighter to start the fires.
A c c o r d i n g to the probable cause statement filed in the case, the Lawrence County deputy sheriff investigating the case stated she received a phone call that some jail inmates were setting fire in the general population wing of the building.
 The deputy stated she viewed video footage, and it showed Tate and Gray lighting rolls of toilet paper on fire. At one point, they allegedly put more rolls of toilet paper on an already burning roll; they also allegedly blew on a burning roll of toilet paper to make it bigger.
Sheriff Brad DeLay stated the cigarette lighter used to start the fire was smuggled into the jail. He also said Tate started the fire “because he wanted to be moved to another jail.”
Arson is a Class B Felony in Missouri, but because they have prior felony convictions, both Gray and Tate can be sentenced as if the crime were a class A felony if they are convicted.
Gray’s criminal complaint states he was found guilty of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia and tampering with a motor vehicle in October of 2018.
Tate’s criminal complaint states that he was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance in February of 2018 and tampering with a motor vehicle in October of 2010.
At the time of the alleged arson, Gray, 32, was facing charges of forgery, stealing and burglary. Tate, 37, was facing charges of first-degree assault, kidnapping, armed criminal action and first-degree robbery.