Former volunteer firefighter Ronald Perry, 49, of Brenham was indicted by a Washington County grand jury Oct. 14 on a second-degree felony arson charge.

Perry was a firefighter for the Rocky Creek Volunteer Fire Department. He is currently being held on a $100,000 bond at the Washington County Jail.

An initial Washington County Sheriff's Office investigation found suspicious wildland fires south of Lake Somerville in 2020, prompting Texas A&M Forest Service law enforcement to investigate. Texas A&M Forest Service law enforcement led a task force investigating the fires, working alongside the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI Central Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force.

“We investigate wildland arson cases and work to bring those responsible to justice,” Jarred Lemmon, Texas A&M Forest Service assistant chief law enforcement officer, said in a statement.

Perry was arrested Aug. 12, 2026, in Washington County on suspicion of allegedly setting numerous fires in the area between 2020 and 2026.

A second-degree felony is punishable by up to 20 years and no less than two years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

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