Houghton Lake man arraigned on wildland arson felony charges
Howard LeRoy, 71, is charged with setting as many as seven fires since 2000.
/ Courtesy: Roscommon Co. Sheriff's Office
HOUGHTON LAKE -- An elderly Roscommon County man is charged with setting at least seven forest fires on three separate dates.
Howard LeRoy, 71, was arraigned Thursday in 83rd District Court in Roscommon. The Houghton Lake man could spend up to ten years in prison for each felony charge against him. He could also be sentenced to pay back the cost of putting out the fires.
The charges stem from an investigation initiated by Department of Natural Resources forest fire officers when they noted a trend in certain areas of unexplained, suspicious fires.
The fire officers collaborated with DNR conservation officers on the investigation over the last several years by sharing information and collecting evidence. Detectives from the DNR's Special Investigation Unit and conservation officers conducted interviews and followed up on many leads.
LeRoy is charged with setting seven fires since approximately 2000 in Roscommon County that DNR fire crews were able to successfully contain, only destroying 1.5 acres of state forestland.
"Collaboration between divisions in the DNR, in these times of limited manpower and resources, is vital to the successful conclusion of complicated cases," said DNR Law Enforcement Division Chief Gary Hagler.
"Arson, whether to residential property or wooded land, has extreme costs to the people of this state," said Scott Heather, DNR state wildfire supervisor in the DNR Forest Management Division. "Costs in timber and habitat damage and suppressing the fires, along with the potential for the public, conservation officers or firefighters to be injured are reasons to fully investigate and prosecute these offenses.
"Also intentionally set fires tie up personnel and equipment that then becomes unavailable for other wildland fires," Heather added.
