Eldorado man charged in Dec. 31 Walmart fire

SALINE COUNTY - Saline County State's Attorney Molly Wilson Kasiar filed a five-count information Tuesday against an Eldorado man related to a New Year's Eve fire at the Harrisburg Walmart.

James S. Curtis, 35, of Eldorado is charged with one count of arson, a Class 2 felony, three counts of criminal damage to property over $100,000, which are Class 2 felonies, and one county of reckless conduct, a Class A misdemeanor.

Curtis will appear before Judge Walden Morris at 1 p.m. today, Jan. 17 for a bail hearing.

As noted by the state's attorney's office, a charge is merely an accusation. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until and unless proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The charges arise from a fire that occurred at the Harrisburg Walmart on Dec. 31. The investigation is being conducted by the Illinois State Fire Marshal's office, Harrisburg Fire Department and Harrisburg Police Department.

A Class 2 felony carries a potential sentence of not less than three years and not more than seven years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

A Class A misdemeanor carries a potential sentence of up to 364 days of imprisonment in the Saline County Detention Center.