Man accused of setting Webster County house on fire after smoking fentanyl

CAMDEN-ON-GAULEY, W.Va. (WBOY) — A West Virginia man is facing charges after troopers say he admitted to lighting a house on fire using a candle he used to smoke fentanyl.

According to a criminal complaint, on Friday, June 26, an off-duty deputy with the Webster County Sheriff’s Department was traveling on WV Route 20 near Camden-on-Gauley when they saw Billy Hardman, 34, of Charleston, walking toward a residence in the 9300 block.

The deputy then called Webster County 911 to report Hardman’s whereabouts, as he is “known to enter unused residences and steal items,” the complaint said.

On the same day, Webster County 911 received a call around 4:34 p.m. reporting that the residence Hardman was previously seen walking toward was on fire. Troopers with the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) said they were able to locate Hardman “not far” from the area where he was first seen, and they took him into custody on active warrants.

Hardman was held in the Central Regional Jail until Sept. 24. The day after Hardman’s release, troopers said they conducted a non-custodial interview with him at the WVSP Webster Detachment, where he admitted that he entered the house in question, “lit a candle,” and used it to “smoke fentanyl.”

During the interview, Hardman also admitted that he “nodded off” after taking a “hit” of the fentanyl and dropped the candle on the couch, adding that he fled the house once he “came back to” and realized that the couch was on fire.

Hardman has been charged with second-degree arson and destruction of property. He is being held, once again, in the Central Regional Jail