A House Springs man has been charged with two felonies for allegedly setting fire to a large shed in the 6800 block of Meadow Lane in Byrnes Mill. Both the shed and a garage next to it were damaged in the fire, which was reported early Sunday morning, Oct. 23, authorities reported.
A few hours later, Byrnes Mill Police arrested Jacob Hoefer, 42, of House Springs in connection with the fire, Chief Frank T. Selvaggio said.
On Monday, Oct. 24, the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Hoefer with second-degree burglary and second-degree arson, each one a class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison, according to court records.
Selvaggio said Hoefer allegedly could be seen in surveillance footage from a home in the area starting the fire, and police identified him by his tattoos.
Selvaggio also said a person who lived at the home knew Hoefer, and police do not believe the fire was a random act.
Hoefer was arrested at about 8:50 a.m. on Beach Drive in Byrnes Mill and allegedly admitted to being in the garage seconds before the fire started, according to the probable-cause statement in the case.
Hoefer was still being held this afternoon, Oct. 26, in the Jefferson County Jail in Hillsboro on no bond.
The High Ridge Fire Protection District got a call at 5:58 a.m. about the fire, and crews found the shed engulfed in flames, according to a post on the district’s Facebook.
No injuries were reported.
The Cedar Hill, Eureka, and Fenton fire protection districts helped with the call.