Arson, Assault Charges Against Princeton Man Dropped

UPDATE: All charges against Roussel have been dismissed by the District Attorney's office. 

A Princeton man, charged with arson for a Hampden house fire, is also accused of sexually assaulting the woman who lived there.

More details are being released about a fire that destroyed a house on Main Road South in Hampden a week ago. Mark Roussel, 35, who's accused of setting the fire, is friends with the house's owner and had frequently stayed there.

WABI-TV says court documents revealed that a woman and a child, as well as Roussel, were in the home when the fire started. In addition to the arson charge, Roussel is accused of sexually assaulting the woman in the home before the fire. There's no report of any fire-related injuries. Officials say the flames started in the garage area and quickly spread to the house.

Roussel was arrested at his home in Princeton on Wednesday.