A Boonville teenager is in the Howard County jail after setting hay and grass fires in rural Howard County earlier this month. Michael Joseph Walters, 19, faces one count of knowingly burning or exploding, a Class E felony, and one count of reckless burning or exploding, a Class B misdemeanor.

Walters was arrested at his home in Boonville on April 5. He pleaded not guilty and waived formal arraignment on April 6 before Judge Mason Gebhardt in Howard County Court.

Walters remains held on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Howard County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Sollers, at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5, a property owner on County Road 434 reported that a hay bale was on fire and believed it to be an act of arson. He told law enforcement that a passerby was nearly run off the road by a white Dodge pickup truck with a lot of rust driving fast. While the passerby stopped and tried extinguishing the fire, the truck drove past again.

 Less than 30 minutes later, Station 2 Fire Department in New Franklin responded to a small cover fire that appeared to be intentionally lit on County Road 467 near the Katy Trail. Station 2 Fire Chief Drane told Officer Sollers he observed Walters driving nearby in a white Dodge pickup trust of a lot of rust. One firefighter stated he smelled petroleum in the area of the grass fire, which is a substance used to light fires.

After contacting the Boonville Police Department, officers there reported they had located Walters’s truck at his residence. Shortly before 11 p.m., Sollers and Deputy Chadwick arrested Walters and took him to the Howard Jail. 

After initially denying setting the fires, Walters admitted that he started both fires with a torch, according to the statement. He later admitted again to setting the fires under further questioning at the jail.

Walters is currently on probation for several other crimes, including felony stealing, excessive speeding, fourth-degree assault, and peace disturbance. He is represented by Columbia attorney Landon Todd Miller and is due back in Howard County court for a preliminary hearing on May 9.