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Plea Deal for Man Who Allegedly Set Ex-Wife's House Ablaze
Deena Bruderick
Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:40:30 EDT
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A plea agreement has been reached with the Bad Axe man accused of setting fire to his ex-wife's home in an alleged domestic incident earlier this year.
On Friday, July 19th, Gary Lee Bailey waived his preliminary examination in 73B District Court and swiftly appeared for arraignment in the 52nd Circuit Court, where the agreement was officially recorded.
Bailey, a resident of Bad Axe, was charged with second-degree arson after allegedly setting his ex-wife's house on fire just after midnight on March 30, 2024. The incident stemmed from a domestic disturbance reported the night before.
On March 29th, the Bad Axe Police Department (BAPD), Huron County Sheriff's Department, and Sanilac County Sheriff's Department were alerted to a confrontation at his ex-wife's new house in Sanilac County. Bailey allegedly rammed her car and threatened to set fire to the house he had been living in, located in Bad Axe.
An officer from the Bad Axe Police Department checked the house on Woodworth Street and saw Bailey and another individual walking away, with smoke emanating from the property. When questioned, Bailey reportedly shrugged and said, "Maybe the house is on fire?"
The house was indeed on fire. The Bad Axe and Bingham Township Fire Departments, along with Central Huron Ambulance, responded swiftly to the scene.
While the Bad Axe Fire Department and Huron County Sheriff's Department remained vigilant through the early morning hours, the BAPD concluded its investigation, leading to Bailey's arrest later that day. The 50-year-old faced charges of second-degree arson.
During Friday's arraignment, Bailey pled no contest to third-degree arson as part of the plea agreement, resulting in the dismissal of the second-degree arson charge. Full restitution will be paid, with a restitution hearing scheduled before sentencing.
Bailey remains in custody at the Huron County Jail, with bond set at $100,000 cash or surety.
