Man acting 'ornery' accused in arsons

Roosevelt County officials on Wednesday charged a Portales man with arson, alleging he started four fires in rural areas.

Jaylin Brown, 31, told authorities he was “being ornery” and started the fires on Tuesday, court records show.

Brown “stated he used the lighter he had in his left front pocket” to start the fires, according to a statement of probable cause.

The record shows he first started a fire north of Elida then went home to do laundry. He then returned to the area and started three more fires.

Damage included a large haystack described as “four stacks high and long” with an estimated value of $70,000 records show.

Brown on Saturday remained in the Roosevelt County jail without bond.