FDL Man Charged with Arson for Setting Fire to Vacant Home

A 58-year-old Fond du Lac man has been charged with Arson
after setting fire to a vacant home in the city earlier this week.

Merlin G. Jolin made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac
County Court Thursday. He’s being charged with four felonies, including Arson,
Burglary and two counts of 2^nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety.

Firefighters were called to the 500 block of Allen Street
Monday afternoon for a report of a fire that had started in the kitchen of a vacant
home.

Reports say two men hired to perform inspections and
repairs on foreclosed homes were at the address when Jolin came up to the
house. The two men continued working on the roof, when they noticed smoke
coming up through the holes. The workers told police that they saw several
cardboard boxes that were on fire on top of and next to the stove. Jolin ran
from the scene, but was located a block away by police and taken into custody.
Jolin is also accused of trying to start fires in the basement of his apartment
building on Merrill Avenue.

Jolin is due back in court December 27^th for a preliminary
hearing. He’s being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on a $100,000 cash
bond.