'Cheetos Arsonist' Receives Maximum Jail Sentence for Setting Fire to Ex's House

A burning home, two lighters, and an empty bag of Cheetos.

This is what the detectives of Taunton, Massachusetts had to work with when they were investigating a suspected arson back in March. To the untrained eye, these items may appear to be unrelated, but to the keen eye of Taunton's finest, they told a different story.

When police apprehended Shemroy Williams and found said items on him, they knew they had their man, according to the Taunton Gazette. The home of Williams' ex-girlfriend had been torched moments earlier, and police concluded that the Cheetos had played a key role in the incident (though they quickly ruled out Chester Cheetah as a suspect).

Investigators said that Williams—who had been stalking, threatening, and vandalizing the property of his ex—had "attempted to use the Cheetos to accelerate the fire" that he had set at her home. After just one hour of deliberation, jurors found him guilty of malicious destruction of property. Williams, who has been dubbed the "Taunton Cheetos arsonist" by local media, was sentenced to the maximum two-and-a-half-year jail sentence.

Using Cheetos to start a fire may sound like a basis for an insanity defense, but a quick YouTube search would suggest otherwise.

Williams "engaged in outrageous behavior that jeopardized the safety of the intended victim, her friend and first responders," District Attorney Thomas Quinn reportedly said. "I want to thank Deputy Fire Chief Scott Dexter for his quick response and removal of the propane tank. I would also like to thank Judge Brennan for imposing the maximum jail sentence, which was well-deserved."

If you think that this is the first Cheetos-related arson, think again. In August, a Missouri redefined the term "flamin' hot" when he tried to set fire to a gas station after being busted by a manager for stealing a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.