JAMESTOWN, N.Y. -- The 19-year-old charged with setting several fires across Jamestown and Falconer was very involved in local theatre productions and performances, and his arrest has stunned the Lucille Ball Little Theater artistic director.
Jonathan H. Young was also involved in theater at Jamestown Community College, and recently took center stage at the Spire Theater in Jamestown as the winner of Chautauqua's Got Talent competition. He was a 2016 graduate of Falconer Central.
Helen Merrill directed Young in a number of productions, including the most recent, Rapunzel. She says Young didn't show up for the final few performances.
"We knew there was something wrong, some place. Wonderful actor, he could do drama, he could do comedy, he could do musicals cause he moved well, and he had a beautiful singing voice. Very, very talented young man."
Young now faces 12 counts of arson, and also faces similar charges in Pennsylvania, where he remains locked up in the Butler County Jail.