$500,000 bail set for fire suspect.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Craig S. Semon

DUDLEY - A Leicester man who allegedly set fire to the Charlton Family Practice, causing about a half-million dollars in damage, is being held on $500,000 bail.

Mark A. Bailey, 31, of 15 River Road, Leicester, is charged with burning a building, larceny at a fire, larceny of a building, two counts of breaking and entering a building for a felony, larceny under $250, larceny over $250, malicious destruction of property over $250, and possession of a burglary tool. Mr. Bailey was arraigned yesterday in Dudley District Court. Judge Paul Losapio set bail at $500,000, with $5 million surety. A pretrial hearing was scheduled for Aug. 26.

Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey T. Travers recommended the high bail because of the seriousness of the offense, as well as what he termed strong evidence and information connecting the defendant to the crime. Leah Metro, Mr. Bailey's court-appointed lawyer, countered that the prosecution only had "all hearsay evidence," that other people were in the building

and that Mr. Bailey was not in possession of any stolen items when he was picked up.

State Trooper Sean Sullivan said in a report that the fire, discovered shortly before 7 a.m. July 16 at Charlton Family Practice, 246 Southbridge Road, Charlton, was set and that Mr. Bailey told his girlfriend he set the fire to cover...