Christopher Daughtery, 23, of Fulton, was arrested by the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 15 for setting fire to a barn in the town of Wright.

He was charged with third-degree arson and second-degree criminal mischief.

The barn on Weber Road was owned by the Loden family, according to Deputy Daniel Smith with the sheriff’s office; the barn was used to store hay and there were no animals inside when the fire started on Sept. 30.

“The barn was a total loss,” according to the sheriff’s office.

Members from the fire departments in Gallupville, Schoharie, Berne, Knox, Altamont, Quaker Street, and Central Bridge all responded to the scene, as did the Scho-Wright and Helderberg ambulances.

Daughtery was remanded to the Schoharie County Jail on $10,000 bail and is to be in Wright Town Court on Nov. 2.

“We’re not sure why he did it,” said Smith when asked about motivation.

The sheriff’s office was able to solve the crime, he said, because of witnesses. “He was acting suspiciously in the area a little while before,” said Smith.  “A bus driver in the area saw his vehicle,” a small ford.

“A couple of people saw him drive away,” said Smith.

He concluded, “I’m really happy with the way everybody keeps an  eye out and the way people came forward as witnesses.”