Father pleads ‘not guilty’ in arson case that killed two sons
Dustin Fields accused of knowingly setting home on fire with teens inside in Franklin County
FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — The man accused of setting a house fire that killed his two teenage sons appeared in virtual court Monday morning for his arraignment.
Dustin Fields, 44, pleaded not guilty to a first-degree arson charge during the hearing, which was held remotely from the Franklin County Detention Center. According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Fields is accused of intentionally setting his home on Flat Creek Road on fire early last Wednesday while knowing his two sons were inside.
During the hearing, Fields acknowledged he owns real estate, saying, “I do but it just recently went up in a ball of flames, so there’s nothing but grass and a garage at the moment.”
The judge kept Fields’ bond at $2 million. Prosecutors objected to Fields’ request to be released temporarily to attend his sons’ funerals. Fields told the court, “I miss my boys.”
According to an arrest citation, investigators say an ATF K-9 detected fire accelerants on Fields’ shoes and inside the home. The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the names of the two boys.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13 at 1 p.m.
Stay with ABC 36 News Now for continuing coverage.
Tags: #FranklinCounty #HouseFire #Arson #DustinFields #KentuckyNews #ABC36NewsNow #ChildVictims #Frankfort #CriminalInvestigation #VirtualCourt
