Man sobs as he is charged with arson in Kalamazoo fires

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A man accused of setting several fires in Kalamazoo sobbed and seemed stunned that injuries had been reported as he was formally charged with arson Friday.

George Stanard was arraigned on charges of three counts of first-degree arson and five counts of third-degree arson. Court documents listing the charges indicate three people were injured.

Appearing in court Friday afternoon via video linkup, Stanard cried and rocked back and forth as he listened to the judge read the charges.

“What?” he blurted when the judge read the first charge that mentioned an injury. “I was told that there was no injuries at all.”

“I think she’s a firefighter,” Judge Tiffany Ankley responded.

Stanard sobbed harder.

When the judge read the next charge, which listed two more injuries, Stanard said, “There’s more injuries?”

“I believe these two were also firefighters; yes, sir,” Ankley said.

Stanard said something inaudible and then said, “They’re still people.”

Stanard became combative toward the end of the hearing. He refused to listen and covered his ears when the judge added he was being charged with a misdemeanor ordinance violation. When she said a not guilty plea was being entered, he shouted, “You’re not entering (expletive) because I plead guilty, (expletive)!”

“I plead guilty, (expletive),” he repeated. “You ain’t entering (expletive). I plead guilty. … I don’t give a (expletive), I said I plead guilty.”

She disregarded him as he continued to shout and argue and entered the not guilty plea on his behalf. It’s common for not guilty pleas to be entered on defendants’ behalf at arraignment, when the full facts of the case have not yet been presented in court.

Stanard, 32, was arrested Thursday morning. Prosecutors said the fires date back to June 11 and the most recent was Wednesday. In a Friday release, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety listed the fires at the following addresses:

• 121 Allen Boulevard ( June 11 )
• 515 W Walnut St. and 117 Gladys Court ( both June 12 )
• 432 S. Westnedge Ave. ( Aug. 20 )
• 716 Riverview Drive ( Aug. 24 )
• 3111 E Kilgore Road
• 316 E Water St. ( Sept. 3 )
• 563 Portage St.

“It’s extraordinarily dangerous situation in the city of Kalamazoo and that we got lucky enough to not have anyone seriously injured or killed as a result of the series of incidents,” Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said.

The June 11 fire on Allen Boulevard started in a vacant home and soon to spread to two other buildings, including a quadplex. Neighbors said they were relieved that someone had been arrested but said their neighborhood still bears the scars.

“Yes, it’s good that they caught the person they think is connected to these fires, but at the same time, it doesn’t remove the fact that it happened nor improve the area at all,” neighbor Joshua Gadelkarim said.

Citing an “extensive” criminal background and saying he posed a danger to the community “given the number of arson charges that are alleged here within a very short period of time,” Ankley set Stanard’s bond at $1 million. If he does post bond and is released, Ankley said he may not have any matches, lighters or accelerants like gas.

When Kalamazoo County Assistant Prosecutor Marcus Hayes suggested during his comments on bond that it was likely Stanard would “reoffend” if released, Stanard said, “No, sir.”

“No, sir. I would not reoffend. Absolutely not,” Stanard said.

The criminal history the judge listed dated back to 2011 and included assault, domestic violence, auto theft, larceny, vandalism, absconding from bond and drug charges.

Stanard is expected back in court Sept. 17. First-degree arson is punishable by up to life in prison. Third-degree arson is punishable by up to 10 years.

~ News 8 Reporter Josh Sanchez contributed to the report.

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