Trending
REEDSVILLE -- A 19-year-old man has been charged with arson for his alleged involvement in causing a fire that burned down the "Biden barn" in the early morning hours of March 6 in Brown Township.
One 15-year-old has also been taken into custody for involvement.
Michael Rogers Kauffman, of Yeagertown, is being charged with felonies arson of a historic resource, possession of an explosive material, two counts of criminal mischief and misdemeanor and recklessly endangering another person.
According to a report from Mifflin County Regional Police Department, the juvenile was turned over to Mifflin County Probation officers and transported to the youth detention center in Centre County. The juvenile also faces numerous felony counts of arson and related charges.
The names of some individuals involved have been concealed from the report because they are minors.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, a 17-year-old and his father reported to Mifflin County Regional Police station for an interview on March 9. The teen told police that on March 5, he went for a ride with his girlfriend, Kauffman and a 15-year-old about at about 11 p.m. in the area of Pheasant Valley Recycling.
The 17-year-old told police that Kauffman and the 15-year-old started shooting a pellet gun at van windows and the 15-year-old -- who is a member of Yeagertown Fire Company -- started throwing flares into fields trying to start a fire because he wanted to perform on a fire call.
According to the report, the 17-year-old suggested the "Biden Barn." The teens then picked up camping fuel that one would use to light charcoal on fire and proceeded to the barn.
The 17-year-old and his girlfriend stayed in the vehicle while Kauffman and the 15-year-old used the camping fuel and Kauffman threw the flare into the hay loft of the two-story wooden structure, but nothing caught fire.
The teens then went back to the 15-year-old's home where they got a gas can and traveled to a nearby gas station and purchased $5 in diesel fuel, then returned to the barn.
The report states that the 15-year-old and Kauffman got out of the vehicle with the diesel fuel and flares -- the 15-year-old carried the diesel and Kauffman carried the flares.
The report states that diesel fuel was spread "all over the barn," including on a roll of plastic, which they rolled a flare up in.
The report indicates the teens then drove away and the 15-year-old's and 17-year old's pagers went off for a fire call. The 17-year-old volunteers with Junction Fire Company.
When the teens arrived back at the barn, the fire was fully involved. The report says the 17-year-old and his girlfriend got out of the vehicle and the 15-year-old arrived on scene with Yeagertown Fire Company.
According to the report, in a phone call made to Kauffman at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Kauffman was asked about the diesel fuel they purchased and he stated it was purchased on his credit card.
Kauffman continued saying when the fire was ruled arson, he and the 15-year-old would "go up into the mountains, either Cooper's or somewhere else close by where the cameras could (not) see them (from) the main roads."
He also said they would get a fire extinguisher, make a fire pit and burn the diesel fuel container.
The 100-year-old barn was situated on the property of Larry and Robin Herst at 132 Tea Creek Road, Reedsville. The owners reported that the barn was painted to serve as a large Biden-Harris political sign, but that it had been empty.
The owners said there was no electricity in the barn and the only items inside were two push-style lawn mowers and a propane tank for a gas grill.
Kauffman was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Kent Smith on Thursday evening and is being held in Mifflin County Correctional Facility, unable to post $500,000 bail.
According to the report, the barn was a total loss. The fire consumed everything but the wooden beam-style type floor joists and the wooden beam side walls.
Responding companies were Reedsville Fire Company, Milroy Hose Company, Yeagertown Fire Co., Burnham Volunteer Fire Co., Chief Logan Volunteer Fire Co., Brooklyn Fire Co., and Belleville Fire Company. City Hook and Ladder and Allensville Volunteer Fire Co. were dispatched as the rapid intervention team. Fire police assisted with shutting the roadway down.
A preliminary hearing for Kauffman is set for 9 a.m. March 17.
The barn burning made national news and a GoFundMe page has been set up to rebuild the barn, which has raised more than $23,000 in six days.