A man charged with attempted arson is due for a criminal call hearing today in front of Indiana County President Judge Thomas Bianco.
46-year-old Casey Kern Bush of Saltsburg is accused of trying to set a house on fire on September 12th of 2024 in the 700 block of Salt Street. Police were initially called out for a disturbance, but found the door forced open and Bush was gone. Inside the house, there were overturned fuel cans that contained suspected diesel, along with spilled paint and several burnt and discarded cigarettes. County HAZMAT teams cleaned the area, and police arrested Bush later in the day, finding the same color of paint on his person that was spilled in the house.
Bush is accused of two counts each of arson and possession of explosive or incendiary material, and single counts of attempted reckless burning, risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, burglary and a summary driving charge. He has been in jail on $100,000 cash bail since his arrest.
Also due in court for a hearing is Evan Stewart. The 21-year-old New Florence man is charged with terroristic threats that caused severe public inconvenience, harassment and disorderly conduct for an incident on October 30th when he shouted death threats at doctors at IRMC. The hospital had to institute extra security in response.
Criminal Call is designed to update the court and the parties involved on the progress of a case. Proceedings are usually postponed to a later date, but on occasion, guilty pleas have been entered at this phase.
