Latino
MONTICELLO – A homeless man is in the Sullivan County Jail without bail after he allegedly started a fire in a building at the former Monticello Manor in an attempt to dry his clothing and the building caught fire.
The blaze destroyed the three-story building.
Robert Latino, 50, was charged with felony arson and misdemeanors of criminal trespass and obstructing governmental administration.
When firefighters arrived on the scene just before 2 p.m. on Saturday, they were hampered by a snow covered driveway leading to the unoccupied building.
Officers spotted fresh footprints in the snow leading away from the building and followed the tracks through the woods for about a half mile before catching up to Latino. He smelled from smoke and his boots were burned when arrested.
Sullivan County Sheriff’s deputies and a State Police K-9 unit assisted Monticello Police with Latino’s arrest.
The Sullivan County Bureau of Fire also assisted in the investigation.
