ROCKLAND — A Rockland man who has been accused of setting fire to a mobile home while three people, including a six-year-old child, were sleeping inside, remains in jail after a judge set his bail at $250,000 cash.

Timothy Barbeau, 42, of Rockland, was charged with two counts of arson and one count of aggravated attempted murder. He did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance Nov. 9 before Judge Paul Mathews in Knox County Unified Court in Rockland.

The District Attorney’s Office filed a notice in court stating that they will not be prosecuting Barbeau at this time for aggravated attempted murder due to insufficient evidence, although they confirmed the investigation is ongoing.

Barbeau was arrested on the morning of Nov. 8 by State Fire Marshal investigator, Mary MacMaster, working with the Rockland Police and fire departments, for allegedly setting the mobile home on fire earlier that same day.

According to the affidavit filed in court by MacMaster, she was first notified by Rockland Fire Chief Chris Whytock Nov. 8 around 7 a.m. that a male, identified as Barbeau, allegedly splashed gasoline on the outside of an occupied mobile home at 23 Third Street in the Sunset Terrace Mobile Home Park and lit it. Whytock also relayed that a neighbor was outside and saw Barbeau allegedly start the fire.

Barbeau lives at 2 Second Street, also in the Sunset Terrace Mobile Home Park.

The investigator interviewed the witness, who said he got up early and was outside around 5:30 a.m. to smoke a cigarette and saw Barbeau walking across the lawn and approaching the victim’s home, according to court documents. He said he could see that Barbeau was carrying “something” and that he used it to splash a liquid on the house. He then saw Barbeau allegedly light the house afire, which spread quickly.

The witness said that after house was on fire, Barbeau continued to splash “the liquid” onto the house. He then grabbed Barbeau and he stopped and dropped the gasoline can, according to the affidavit.

On two occasions, Barbeau tried to run off but the witness said he was able to hold him until Rockland police arrived.

The investigator collected the evidence at the scene including a partially burned gasoline can and its contents, a gasoline can nozzle and a lighter.

According to affidavit, the fire cause minimal damage to the exterior of the residence and no one was injured. 

Barbeau is being represented by his court appointed attorney, Matthew D. Bowe, of Brunswick.

He will appear in court again Feb. 16 for a dispositional conference.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com