KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A man pled guilty on Friday to starting a string of fires in the Kalamazoo area last year, according to Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jeff D. Williams.
George Stanard, 33, pled guilty to three counts of first-degree arson as well as one count of third-degree arson as a second habitual offender, Williams said.
Stanard had been charged with starting fires between June 11 and Sept. 4, 2024 at the following locations:
- 121 Allen Blvd.
- 515 W Walnut St.
- 117 Gladys Ct.
- 432 S. Westnedge Ave.
- 716 Riverview Dr.
- 3111 E. Kilgore Rd.
- 316 E. Water St.
- 563 Portage St.
Probable cause documents obtained by News Channel 3 reveal Stanard was caught on surveillance video several times near scenes where fires were actively burning.
- Previous coverage: Man arrested in string of Kalamazoo fires ID’d, facing 8 arson charges
The documents also reveal Stanard made a call to Kalamazoo Consolidated Central Dispatch with his own cell phone to report the fire he allegedly set on Portage Street on Sept. 3…