Plant City man arrested on arson, child abuse charges

A 44-year-old Plant City man spent the weekend in jail following his arrest Friday following a domestic violence incident.

Randy Lee Lisenby is facing a slew of charges including arson and child abuse. He is currently being held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail.

According to a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office report deputies were dispatched to 106 Chapman Rd. just after noon. The suspect was involved in an argument with a female at the residence that escalated.

The woman told deputies she wanted Lisenby out of the home due to his continued drug abuse. The report states the suspect grabbed a bottle of lighter fluid and started splashing it around the west side of the home near a door.

The victim's two young children were standing nearby as Lisenby poured the liquid. He allegedly said he was going to burn the trailer down.

The woman grabbed her children and took them to a neighbor's home. Lisenby burned a rug and some blankets in the children's bedroom investigators say.

When deputies arrived he barricaded himself in the trailer and refused to come out. He again stated he was going to burn the place down.

Deputies witnessed the suspect lighting paper inside the trailer where he had poured lighter fluid earlier. Eventually Lisenby came out of the home and surrendered.

Investigators with Hillsborough County Fire and the State Fire Marshal's Office also responded to the scene to collect evidence. HCSO's Child Protective Services unit was also notified of the incident.

Lisenby, who is no stranger to law enforcement, was charged with two counts of child abuse, one count of aggravated assault and one count of felony arson.

The suspect has four prior arrests in Hillsborough County since 2001. Lisenby's prior arrests include DUI and contempt of court charges.