Former Councilman's Case To Grand Jury

A grand jury now gets to hear the arson case of former Bayou La Batre city councilman Henry Barnes.

Barnes was back in court on Thursday after being charged with trying to burn his house in June. Bayou police believe Barnes was after insurance money and used a nearby forest fire as an excuse to set his own home on fire.

Barnes argues that he never had any plans to file a claim. He told us he was killing fleas and says the charge is payback for his days in office!

When confronting Barnes, police Captain Darryl Wilson says he heard a number of excuses from exterminating to remodeling. "I've never heard of anyone burning a pear tree down to get rid of it. I've never heard of anyone smoking fleas out by setting their house on fire nor have I heard of demolition by fire of a residence." According to Wilson, Barnes didn't like the addition on the back of the house that his father-in-law built.

No word on when the grand jury will hear the case. Barnes could face 2-to-20 years in prison if convicted of second degree arson.