At approximately 1 a.m. on Aug. 25, Nye County Sheriff's deputies and Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue responded to a fire at the Trinity Assembly of God church on 750 South Big Five Road.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Nevada Division of Investigations also responded to the scene after evidence suggested the fire was intentionally set. Nye County Sheriff’s deputies began searching the area when one of the deputies had located a suspicious vehicle parked in the middle of a road in the Ashanti Ridge housing development.
The vehicle had no lights on and was facing towards the structure fire. Deputies made contact with the driver, Frank Eugene Casey, who was intoxicated and smelt of smoke, which prompted the deputies to notify the ATF and NDI investigators.
Casey was placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence and was transported to the Nye County Detention Center.
Nye County detectives, along with the ATF and NDI investigators, interviewed Casey where he admitted to starting the fires at the Trinity church building. Casey told investigators that he used spray paint to try to ignite a fire on one of the exterior walls of the church, but was unsuccessful.
Casey stated he then opened the door to a storage room where he then ignited a fire that destroyed the entire interior portion of the room, along with all items and tools that were stored within.
Casey was placed under arrest and he is being held on $102,500.
