A Palmerton man has been charged with arson after he intentionally set a barn on fire in Lower Towamensing Township.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Bradley Emerick of the State Police at Lehighton barracks:

At 12:42 p.m. Frida, police received a report of a barn fire at 695 Hahn’s Dairy Road.

Several state troopers were met by Joseph Michael Janko-Hudson, 41, who was sitting to the right of the burning barn.

He was making no move to extinguish the fire.

Emerick interviewed the victim on scene who said that she dropped off Janko-Hudson in Palmerton following an argument within her vehicle.

The victim said she returned home and saw Janko-Hudson walking down the driveway. He then entered the barn and let the horses out.

She said she saw smoke and flames coming from the front left side of the barn where the hay is located and Janko-Hudson walked from the burning barn to the horse pasture and then sat down to watch.

The victim then asked Janko-Hudson why he did what he did, and he replied, “I told you, I don’t care anymore.”

The victim then said she attempted to put out the fire while Janko-Hudson made no attempts to help extinguish the fire, but rather sat and watched.

In addition to the arson charge, Janko-Hudson also faces charges of recklessly endangering another person, risking catastrophe, and criminal mischief.

He is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing June 10 before District Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford.