Anthony Baye indicted again on arson and murder charges

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (wwlp) - One week after the district attorney dropped all but two charges against accused arsonist Anthony Baye, a Hampshire County Grand Jury has returned an indictment charging Baye with multiple counts of arson and murder.

"A Hampshire County Grand Jury returned a 42-count  indictment, today (Tuesday), charging accused arsonist Anthony Baye with setting 26 fires. Fifteen of the fires occurred during the early morning hours of Dec. 27, 2009. Eleven fires occurred on 8 separate dates between Jan. 19, 2007 and Nov. 10, 2009," according to a news release from Mary Carey, spokeswoman for the Northwestern District Attorney's office.

The charges include two counts of murder for the deaths of Paul Yeskie and Paul Yeskie Jr. and four counts of armed burglary, all of which carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Also from the News Release:, "Baye has also been charged with six counts of arson of a dwelling, each of which are punishable by up to 20 years in state prison. He’s been charged with 21 counts of arson of a motor vehicle, each punishable by up to three years in state prison; five counts of attempted arson of a dwelling; three counts of attempted arson of a motor vehicle, all of which are punishable by 10 years in state prison; and one count of arson of a building."

"Special Assistant District Attorney Brett Vottero will prosecute the case. Baye is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, July 26 at 2 p,m. in Hampshire Superior Court before Judge Constance Sweeney."

Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan last week dropped all but two of the previous indictments against Baye after the state's highest court threw out Baye's taped confession.  Prosecutors immediately launched a new investigation resulting in Tuesday's Grand Jury indictments.