Texan pupils pass exam for arson

Fox devised the scheme after falling in arrears on payments

Two Texas students have been charged with arson after agreeing to torch a teacher's car so she could collect insurance money.

Roger Luna, 18, and Darwin Arias, 17, were failing their chemistry class but got passing marks in exchange for stealing and burning the car.

Houston teacher Tramesha Fox hatched the scheme in May after falling behind in payments on her Malibu Chevrolet.

Ms Fox, 32, has been charged with arson and insurance fraud.

Suspicious

Ms Fox, of Aldine Senior High School, reported her 2003 Chevrolet stolen on 27 May. It was found burned out 12 days later near the home of Mr Arias.

On the last day of school, the boys allegedly took the unlocked vehicle from a shopping mall car park to a wooded area and set it alight.

Mr Luna and Mr Arias had been failing Mr Fox's class until their final exam but both received high enough marks to pass the year.

Investigators became suspicious when they discovered Ms Fox had bought a new Toyota Corolla a week before the Chevrolet was reported stolen.

She reportedly still owed $20,000 on the Chevrolet.

Fire investigator Dustin Deutsch, of the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, said Ms Fox initially blamed the damage on students.

He said she provided a list of up to seven potential suspects which did not include the names of her alleged co-conspirators.

Mr Luna and Mr Arias were identified after investigators checked Ms Fox's mobile phone call list.