LENZBURG – The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department said a 42-year-old man was taken into custody Friday, July 3, 2026, after deputies responding to a domestic disturbance in the 9400 block of Schaller Road in Lenzburg found a home fully engulfed in flames and later alleged he had battered a juvenile and intentionally set multiple fires inside the residence.
The sheriff’s department said the call came in at 4:11 p.m. in unincorporated St. Clair County. Authorities said the juvenile victim was at the New Athens Police Department, where officers were told the father was at the home destroying items and attempting to set the house on fire.
When deputies arrived, they found the residence fully engulfed, according to the sheriff’s department. The suspect, identified as Raymond J. Generous, was located at the residence and taken into custody without incident.
Authorities said Generous was transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained during the commission of the alleged crimes. He was later discharged and is being held at the St. Clair County Jail.
Investigators said they later learned Generous battered a juvenile inside the home and, after becoming upset, intentionally lit numerous items on fire. The juvenile extinguished several of the fires, authorities said, but investigators believe Generous lit additional items after the juvenile exited the home.
Investigator Morgan Meise was assigned to the case along with the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office. After interviewing witnesses and gathering facts, a warrant application was submitted to the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant State’s Attorney Judith Dalan issued the following charges against Generous, authorities said: aggravated arson, residential arson, aggravated domestic battery, endangering the life or health of a child, and domestic battery.
St. Clair County Associate Judge Leah Captain ordered that Generous be held at the St. Clair County Jail pending further review by the court.
The sheriff’s department said no significant injuries were sustained as a result of the fire and that there was no additional property loss to neighboring residences, crediting responding officers and investigators, along with the New Athens and Marissa fire departments.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Meise at 618-825-5716.
The sheriff’s department also said anyone experiencing domestic violence is encouraged to contact the Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois at its 24-hour hotline, 618-235-0892.
Under Illinois law, all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proved guilty in a court of law.
