A Perry County grand jury has indicted three Marion men on arson charges in the January fire that destroyed Judy’s Convenience Store on Washington Street in Marion, according to Perry County Circuit Court records.
Richard Harris Moore, 60, Aziz Yahia Moflah Zandani, 39, and Nader Nageeb Zandani, 34, all of Marion, are each charged with one count of arson in the second degree, a Class B felony. The indictments, returned Aug. 25 during the grand jury’s August term and filed in circuit court Sept. 11, charge that each man, on or about Jan. 19, intentionally damaged a building belonging to another person by starting or maintaining a fire or causing an explosion. Each indictment lists the charge as arson of an unoccupied building.
The indictments identify the building only by its owner’s name. The three men were arrested Feb. 2 on district court complaints that, as the Times-Standard-Herald reported in February, placed the fire in the early morning hours of Jan. 19 at Judy’s Convenience Store, formerly Kwik-Way Grocery. The building was destroyed, with only its cinderblock walls left partially standing.
Bond was set at $30,000 for each man, and all three were released, Moore and Nader Zandani on Feb. 3 and Aziz Zandani on Feb. 9, according to court records dated Sept. 11. The three cases were assigned to three different circuit judges, court records show. Arraignment is set for Oct. 14 for Nader Zandani, Oct. 16 for Moore and Oct. 28 for Aziz Zandani.
Arson in the second degree is punishable upon conviction by two to 20 years in prison.
All persons arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
