Pennsylvania Police Chief's Firefighter Sons Charged With Arsons

Two brothers, both volunteer firefighters, are charged with setting Fayette County's forests on fire, but more charges could be on the way. The case went before a judge on Thursday, with a six-month investigation, 14 witnesses, and wiretap evidence all coming out in court. Now, the family is struggling as new evidence surfaced that has yet another brother under investigation. Police said the fires the brothers allegedly set jeopardized the lives of hundreds of firemen and dozens of homes in south Connellsville. At least one witness testified that Michael and Robert Helms confessed to him that they had started the fires, but he said he was just too afraid to come forward since their brother is the fire chief and their father is the police chief. But the defense argued he wasn't afraid to come forward -- instead, he was finally taking revenge on a grudge. The felony arson charges the brothers are facing, compiled by the state attorney general's office, come with serious jail time if they are convicted. Three fires occurred within one week in south Connellsville and destroyed hundreds of acres of forest. The attorney general's office said both brothers bragged to another volunteer fireman , Jason Jacobs, that they started the fires. Afraid of the Helms' influential family, Jacobs said he turned to the assistant chief, whose job now is to convince residents in the small town his department hasn't fallen apart. "We will be there -- we are going to be there for them," said Assitant Chief John Shearer. "They brought two people in here that had something against these young men today," said Michael Helms' attorney, Daniel Taylor. But there are other witnesses and conversations collected through wiretaps that the attorney general's office said proves the Helms brothers set the fires just for the thrill getting to the scene first and putting them out. In a new revelation in district court Thursday, the prosecution revealed that its investigation is now focusing in on the third Helms brother, Fire Chief Steve Helms, but so far, it hasn't filed any charges. Related Links:More County News