Suspect in bonfire blast gets change of venue

The suspect in a Jan. 18 bonfire explosion appeared Wednesday morning in Jackson for arraignment in circuit court and filed a motion for a change of venue.

By agreement with the prosecution, the case against Jerry L. Self Jr., 22, was moved to Perry County by Circuit Court Judge William Syler.

Self is charged with 14 counts of felony assault and is free on $75,000 bond. Prosecutors say he threw a 5-gallon gasoline container into the bonfire, seriously burning 14 young adults at an outdoor party held at 3901 County Road 621.

During Self's preliminary hearing on Feb. 25, three witnesses identified him as the person who threw the gas container into the bonfire, and a fourth said Self had dared him to do it.