Local, state and federal authorities are trying to learn more about what caused a destructive fire at the trailer home of a convicted sex offender who was recently charged with possession of child pornography.
The blaze was reported Tuesday night in a mobile home park off of West 810 Road. Tahlequah and Woodall fire departments were called to the scene and found the trailer home of Bill Robinett engulfed by flames.
“We don’t really know what started the fire,” Tahlequah Fire Chief Ray Hammons said. “When we got there, the trailer was half-involved on the front living area. We knocked it down pretty quick, but it had a lot of fire throughout and took a long time, with all of the hot spots.”
Bill Robinett, 72, had been living in the trailer until his arrest earlier this month on charges of child pornography. He was released from the Cherokee County Detention Center this week to seek medical treatment, but Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault said witnesses saw Bill Robinett’s son, 46-year-old Michael Dwayne Robinett, at the home before the fire.
“The people in the trailer park said that [Michael Robinett] was moving stuff out of the trailer [Tuesday] and acting suspicious,” Chennault said.
Deputies arrived at the house fire, and later found Michael Robinett at another residence. They claim Michael Robinett tried to give them a false name. Later, authorities learned Michael Robinett was wanted on warrants.
“He was arrested after the fire for the warrants,” said Chennault. “We interviewed him [Wednesday], and he denies everything. But witnesses are putting him there at the time the fire started.”
Michael Robinett was held at CCDC with a $1,500 bond for possession of paraphernalia, false personation, and resisting. He is also being held for Muskogee County warrants.
Chennault said the state fire marshal and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating the scene Wednesday. ..Source.. by Josh Newton
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