Authorities have arrested Live Oak Vice Mayor Aaron Pamma for suspected arson with the purpose of committing insurance fraud.
Pamma is one of several men accused of burning down a Butte County farmhouse to collect on the insurance money. One of the other suspects is his brother, Simren Pamma, who serves on the Live Oak Unified School Board.
"This has been a months-long investigation by our local Cal Fire investigators that started out with an investigation of a fire on the west side of Butte County," District Attorney Mike Ramsey said.
The investigation also involved members of the FBI.
An attorney for Aaron Pamma has issued a statement denying the allegations and calling the charges politically motivated.
Pamma is scheduled to be arraigned on August 13.