Man charged with torching Kinston buildings

William Shawn Elliott, 48, of 318 Linwood Drive in Jacksonville, was charged with one count of first-degree arson and four counts of burning a building. He was being held Monday in the Lenoir County jail under a $300,000 bond.

Six buildings on East Gordon Street in Kinston were set ablaze on July 14, police said. Three were vacant, but a law firm, a salon and a fitness center occupied the other three.

Elliott owned one of the buildings, police said.