By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
A man is being held in the Box Butte County jail for attempted first degree murder, first degree arson, terroristic threats, and felony child abuse.
APD investigators said they were called to East 9th Street in Alliance on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
Cornell Belt thought his wife and their roommate were having an affair.
Alliance police said that Belt set a fire at the top of the staircase leading to a basement to prevent the roommate from leaving the residence.
Belt also pulled a gas stove away from a wall in an attempt to disrupt the gas line, thus possibly causing an explosion.
Belt’s daughter was home. She ran to a neighbor’s house.
Belt was interviewed at the Alliance Police Department. Belt said if he had a firearm at the time of the incident he would have killed his wife and roomate.
Belt's bond is set at $20,000.