Man Claims God Wanted Him to Burn Down Mass. Adult Store

WEYMOUTH, MA—Apparently, Jon F. Fernald was a regular customer of the Amazing Intimate Essentials store at 138 Bridge St. in Weymouth—in fact, so good a customer that he claimed that all the porn available at the store turned him into a porn addict. "Mr. Fernald stated he wanted to get some revenge against the store so he set the [place on] fire because God does not like pornography," Weymouth police Detective Timothy Browning wrote in his report of the crime. According to a news story on The Patriot Ledger website, Fernald told the cops that he'd been hearing voices for several days telling him to light the store on fire, so he'd taken a cab to the vicinity the previous Saturday morning, stole a couple of cans of gasoline from a garage near the store, used a sledgehammer he'd brought from home to break in the front door of the store, poured gas on various adult magazines and DVDs, then managed to inflict severe burns on his hands, arms, legs, face and head when he ignited his "bonfire." His response when police asked him what happened? "I’m mentally ill and sometimes I do stupid things." The fact that he drank a 40-ounce bottle of beer during the cab ride probably didn't help matters, either. But Fernald didn't just burn down the Amazing store; the flames also took out two other adjacent businesses: Serenity Nails & Spa and Epic Stone & Tile, as well as an apartment located above one of the stores, causing an estimated $1 million in total damages. Fernald was arraigned in his hospital bed on charges of  arson of a dwelling, breaking and entering, and possession of a burglary tool. The court also ordered a mental competency hearing for Fernald—a process that may be aided by two recent studies reported on by AVN. Also making for good reading are some of the comments left on The Patriot Ledger's website about the story. "He's got the 'blame someone else' mentality," wrote one solid citizen. "This confirms that he is an Obama voter." "Enquiring minds want to know: How strong the Town of Weymouth's zoning codes are," asked another. "First, was the site zoned and approved for a residential apartment attached? Second, Was the place declared a total loss and must be demolished? Most importantly, will the Pornographic store be permitted again to open at this or any other site in Weymouth?" "Enquiring minds" indeed!