Bail set at $100,000 for dad charged with arson

November 21, 2009 (ELGIN) Deputy Police Chief Jeff Swoboda said Saturday that James R. Beavers Jr., 31, of 517 Cumberland Trail, has been charged with two counts of aggravated arson, a Class X felony, plus two counts of regular arson, two counts of obstructing a firefighter and one count of aggravated obstructing a police officer. His bail was set at $100,000 in bond court Saturday morning and, unable to post the required 10 percent, he was taken to Kane County jail.

Flames were noticed coming from a bedroom of the home at 517 Cumberland Trail at about 3:10 p.m. Thursday. Firefighters said Beavers was outside the home and struggled with one of them and later with a police officer. After they got inside, firefighter Kevin Hartmann found Beavers' 2-year-old son strapped into a high chair on the second floor.

Relatives told The Courier-News that Beavers and his wife lived in the home with their seven children and with his parents, James Sr. and Terry Beavers. The fire did extensive damage to the home.

Police and fire officials said the blaze apparently started on a bed on the first floor but have disclosed few other details of their investigation.

Information from Dave Gathman, Courier-News