Man arrested in fire case released without charges

ELLSWORTH – A Gouldsboro man arrested last week on suspicion of starting a fire has been released from jail and has not been formally charged, according to a local prosecutor.

Sherman Merchant, 40, was held for 48 hours in Hancock County Jail after investigators had established probable cause for arson in connection with a March 20 fire that destroyed a manufactured home on Light House Point Road, Hancock County Deputy District Attorney Carletta Bassano said Tuesday.

Because the investigation is still in its early stages, formal charges against Merchant have not been filed and he has been released, Bassano said.

Such arrests for probable cause are routine and often are authorized by a qualified local attorney rather than by a sitting judge, according to Bassano. She said that nine times out of 10, formal charges are filed against a suspect before the 48-hour detention period expires.

According to Gouldsboro Police Chief Guy Wycoff, no one else has been charged so far in connection with the fire.

Firefighters first responded the night of March 20 to the Prospect Harbor fire, but had to go back several hours later on March 21 after it started up again.

“There were two separate incidents at the same location,” Wycoff said Tuesday.

The fire is being investigated by John Morse of the state Fire Marshal’s Office. Morse said Monday he considers the fire to have been set intentionally but declined further comment about the investigation.

According to Gouldsboro Assistant Fire Chief James Souders, the home was being rented by a woman who has been away for some time. Souders has said he did not know the name of the woman or of the building’s owner.

The fire started in the middle of the home and, with the resulting smoke, destroyed the structure and its contents, Souders said last week. No one was injured in the blaze.