A Roanoke Rapids man will have a first court appearance next month on arson-related charges which stem from house fires set in the Everette’s School Road area of Roanoke Rapids last week.

Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said it is not clear what drove Jackie Putney Jr., 30, to throw Molotov cocktails into two houses on Windsor Forest Road Thursday.

One house sustained major damage while another sustained minimal damage.

Hall said in a statement at approximately 4:30 the morning of June 13 Sergeant Andy Cash and deputies Alex Wood and Bryan Murphy responded to Windsor Forest Road, which is located off Everette’s School Road and Highway 903, to a report of a person throwing a Molotov cocktail through a back window.

Residents informed deputies Putney was the reputed suspect. The residents of the house with minimal damage were able to attend to the fire while firefighters were arriving, Hall said.

Cash noticed another home on Windsor Forest had a large amount of smoke drifting outside and flames coming out of the windows. That house was engulfed.

Investigation determined Putney was responsible for that fire as well as attempting to set a second fire at the home of those reporting the crime.

Putney was charged the following day with attempted first-degree arson, second-degree arson and injury to property.

At the time the charges were filed he was jailed on $50,000 secured bond and given a July 17 court date.