Man accused of setting St. Clair County house on fire to appear in court

A man accused of setting a Lenzburg home on fire and battering a juvenile is set to appear in St. Clair County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning.

Raymond J. Generous, 44, of Lenzburg, was charged on Saturday with aggravated arson, a Class X felony; residential arson, a Class 1 felony; aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony; domestic battery, a Class A misdemeanor; and endangering the life or health of a child, a Class A misdemeanor.

The charging documents allege that on Friday, July 3, Generous “struck, kicked and fought” a juvenile and set items on fire within a residence in the 9400 block of Schaller Road in Lenzburg while the juvenile was present.

Fire destroyed the home, according to a news release from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. Charging documents list the house that burned as Generous’ residence.

A public defender was appointed to represent Generous. The St. Clair County Public Defender’s Office could not immediately be reached for comment Monday evening.

Generous was transported to a hospital for injuries and later discharged, the release states. He remains in custody at the St. Clair County Jail.

His pretrial detention hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville before Associate Judge Sara L. Rice.

Pretrial detention hearings are conducted to determine whether a person accused of a crime should remain in jail — or be released with conditions — pending their trial. This system began when Illinois abolished cash bail.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated the case. The sheriff’s department asks those with information to contact investigator Morgan Meise at 618-825-5716.

Friends of the family who have been collecting clothing donations said they have been overwhelmed with support.