City arson suspect had prior convictions

DANIEL TEPFER dtepfer@ctpost.com
Article Last Updated: 11/23/2007 03:56:30 PM EST

BRIDGEPORT — A man described by authorities as a "person of interest" in Thanksgiving Day arsons that damaged a church and two houses in the city's West End, has two prior arson convictions in Ohio.

William T. Leathers, 44, was arraigned on an unrelated charge today in Superior Court.

His hands and feet shackled, he was brought into court to face a charge of interfering with a police officer.

Assistant State's Attorney Pamela Esposito urged Judge Howard Owens to hold Leathers on bond because investigators want to question him further in the local arson probe.

The judge agreed and ordered Leathers held in lieu of $5,000 cash-only bond. He continued the case to Dec. 6.

According to court records, for the past eight months Leathers has been living at 172 Grove St. with his wife and 3-month-old son.

When he was an Ohio resident, he was convicted in at least two prior arson cases.

The Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church at 110 Grove St., and two unoccupied houses at 160-162 and 175 Grove St. were damaged by set fires early Thursday.

While the fires were being investigated, officers interviewed a man, who gave his name as Winston Gordon, and claimed to be affiliated with the church. But witnesses later told police that they had seen a man, who matched the description of "Winston Gordon," walking from behind the house at 160-162 Grove St. shortly before a fire erupted there.

When police attempted to talk to the man again, he fled and jumped over a fence into a neighboring yard. He later was taken into custody and identified as William Leathers, police said.