Area man charged with arson and vehicle theft

A local man faces felony arson and vehicle theft charges following a Texas County Sheriff’s Department investigation on Monday.

Jacob L. Murphy, 23, of Mountain View, is charged with first-degree arson and tampering with a motor vehicle. 

Sheriff Scott Lindsey reported that deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle and arson fire on Mount Olive Road in the Clear Springs area.  Upon arrival, a man and woman told to the officers they had awakened to a fire outside their camper and that their vehicle had been stolen. Lindsey said that about two hours later, a deputy located the vehicle traveling on Mount Olive Road and initiated a traffic stop. 

The driver was identified as Murphy, and he was arrested and transported to the Texas County Jail.     His bond was set at $200,000 bond.