Camper burned, woman charged

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A Babbie woman has been arrested after allegedly setting her mother’s camper trailer on fire.

Penny Marie Viles, 54, is charged with one count of second-degree arson.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks said authorities responded at approximately 2:36 p.m. Saturday to Babbie Road where they found the Coachman camper trailer engulfed in flames.

“The initial report came in that Ms. Viles had locked herself in the trailer before setting it on fire; however, she was actually not,” Meeks said. “Luckily, there was no one inside at all.”

Meeks said the camper was a complete loss..

Authorities later located Viles and placed her under arrest. She is currently being held in the Covington County Jail under a $100,000 bond.

Responding to the incident were the Babbie Volunteer Fire Department, Opportunity EMS and the Covington County Sheriff’s Office.

The case has been turned over to the state fire marshal’s office, Meeks said.