Some crimes are more or less related, and a criminal charge of one type can easily attract other related charges. A good example is an arson charge, which may trigger related charges such as:

Fraud

Assault and fraud usually go hand in hand because many arsonists commit their criminal acts for fraudulent reasons. For example, someone may burn down their business (say the business is no doing that well) so that they may file for compensation from their insurance carrier. This is why insurance companies thoroughly investigate all fire incidences before settling the related claim. In most cases, the policyholder ends up becoming one of the prime suspects of the investigation. If you are suspected of burning down your property for the sake of insurance fraud, you will be charged both with the crime of fraud and the crime of arson.

Causing Bodily Harm

Most people who commit arson don't intend to harm or kill other people. In fact, most cases of arson fires take place when the buildings' occupants are away. However, there are cases where an arsonist may burn down a property thinking that is it vacant when, in the real sense, it is not. For example, an abandoned or vacant building may appear vacant only because the homeless sleeping in it don't want to be found out. In such a case, the building's occupants may be severely burned or even fatally burned. If that is what happened in the case you are facing, then you will be charged both with arson and assault causing bodily harm (or homicide if the person dies) to another person.

Destruction of Property

Arson is defined as the act of intentionally setting fire to a person's property without permission. In most cases, the property involved is real estate property, but of course, fire doesn't choose which property to consume and which one to leave. That is why most cases or arsons involved the destruction of valuable property. For that reason, most arsonists also face destruction of property charges.

Trespassing

Lastly, you may also be charged with trespassing if the property you burned down was not yours and you didn't have permission to be on the property. For example, if you jump over the fence and burn down your neighbor's storage shed because it is an eyesore, you will face both trespassing and arson charges.

Therefore, if you have been arrested on the suspicion of arson, expect the prosecution to bring additional charges against you depending on the circumstances of your case. The good news is that a criminal defense attorney can help you defend all these charges.