Detectives have charged a man over the fire that burned Turners Furniture One to the ground in September.
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Allan Wayne Schodde, 33, of Young, fronted Young Local Court on Tuesday charged with intentionally or recklessly damaging property by fire, enter house etc with intent to commit serious indictable offence and drive motor vehicle on a road during disqualification period.
Turners Furniture One was ravaged by fire on September 27, engulfing the store and adjoining units.
A woman who was inside the building had to jump from the first floor to a van below her to escape the blaze.
Court documents allege Schodde broke into the store and tried to steal a safe, before setting the building alight, sometime between 5.50 and 6.30am September 27.
Police opposed bail which was formally refused by local magistrate Peter Dare SC.
In opposing bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Steve Watterson said the prosecution had an "overwhelmingly strong" case against Schodde, which included alleged admissions and telephone intercepts.
"There are no bail conditions that would mitigate any risk that your honour could impose," he said.
Sergeant Watterson said the statement of facts prepared by detectives spanned 24 pages.
Mr Dare remanded the man in custody and adjourned the matter to Wagga Local Court on January 21, where Schodde will appear via audio visual link.
Schodde was embraced by his partner as he left the court in custody.
“I love you baby,” she said.
Detective Sergeant Damian Nott said the arrest was the result of months of intensive investigation.
“We’re extremely pleased with the result in the accused being arrested and charged today,” he said.
“I don’t think we can overstate what a result like this means for our organisation and more importantly the community.”
He said police hoped the arrest sent a clear message to the community, not only that police will relentlessly follow events up, but that they will do their best to prevent them from happening.
“We’re particularly pleased for the family who own and run the business that was targeted by this offence that they can now have some closure to what can only be described as a horrendous episode in their lives,” Detective Sergeant Nott said.
“We also need to acknowledge the significant part that the community played in supporting police to get these results, some of whom we continually return to for assistance.”
