Sellers charged with arson, fraud, aggravated assault

Courtney Sellers, 34, of Screven has been charged with arson, insurance fraud, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John F. King announced Monday. On July 17 the Jesup Fire Department reached out to investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office in reference to video and audio footage from a fire on July 14 on Pine Circle in Screven, King reported. The original footage was captured by the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. "Based on the footage and interviews conducted, investigators determined that Ms. Sellers compelled her stepchild to start a fire inside the home for insurance money on two separate occasions," said Commissioner King. "The suspect was arrested on July 18 and is currently being housed in the Wayne County Jail." King said the fire commissioner's office worked with the Jesup Fire Department and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office on this investigation. According to the Wayne County Jail offender index, Sellers is facing 15 felony charges: two charges of arson, one charge of insurance fraud, seven charges of aggravated assault and five charges of cruelty to children. Bond for Sellers was set at $287, 500.

The home in Screven where Sellers lived with her husband and a number of children and stepchildren was completely destroyed by the fire. Sellers was arrested after extensive interviews with the state fire marshal for District 12. The house was considered a total loss in the amount of $120, 000, including contents. It was insured by State Farm, according to the Jesup fire report. The fire report said that the alarm on the fire came at 3:56 a.m., and the house was fully involved when the firefighters arrived 17 minutes later. The fire was under control at 4:25 a.m.