Tamaqua man in arson case fails to show up for jail

Authorities are searching for a Tamaqua man who failed to show up at Schuylkill County prison to serve his sentence for setting his apartment on fire.

Brian K. Haas, 51, pleaded guilty in absentia on Sept. 27 to  to arson and risking a catastrophe.

President Judge William E. Baldwin sentenced him to 11½ to 23 months in jail on the charge of arson, intent to destroy an unoccupied building, and to 12 months of probation on the catastrophe charge.

But Haas, who failed to respond to a letter ordering him to appear for his sentencing, vanished.

He is white, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 145 pounds. His last known address is 409 W. Broad St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua.

Anyone with information on Haas’ whereabouts is asked to call the district attorney’s office at 570-628-1350 or Schuylkill County Tip Line at 570-624-3988.

According to court documents and testimony, Haas set fires in his apartment at 409 W. Broad St. on Feb. 24, 2016.

He locked himself inside and refused to let police and firefighters in.

Haas, who was forcibly removed, told police he was trying to get rid of mold.