Plea hearing set for suspect in Shelter House arson case

Lang
1/21/23

A plea hearing has been set for a local transient accused of trying to set fire to Shelter House last July.

47-year-old Michael Dacunos is facing a 1st Degree Arson charge after he was allegedly seen on-camera walking up to a pile of abandoned property sitting against the Southgate Avenue facility and then walking away. Shortly afterwards, smoke and flames began coming from the area where the property was left.

Shelter House suffered burn and smoke damage to the outside of the property, with the odor of smoke permeating the entire building.

On Friday, Judge Paul Miller set a plea hearing for January 27th.

If convicted, Dacunos faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Dacunos lists his address as The 501 Project, which is the new apartment building Shelter House recently opened next door.