Waukegan Man Denies Setting Salvation Army Fire
WAUKEGAN (CBS) -- A former Waukegan mayoral candidate denied burning down the Waukegan Salvation Army building at his arraignment Thursday in a north suburban court.
Gregory Flesher, 48, faces up to seven years in prison for the arson charge. He also faces up to seven years in prison for a burglary charge and up to three years in prison for a criminal damage to property charge, according to Lake County Circuit Court Associate Judge Theodore Potkonjak.
Flesher is accused of setting fire to the building at 133 S. Genesee St. on May 4. He is also accused of attempted arson on May 11 at 224 Washington St., which is just blocks away from the Salvation Army building.
He also faces arson and second-degree murder charges in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada for allegedly causing a fatal fire that killed Leeanne Elizabeth Hill.
Flesher will have to face trial in Lake County before he will be turned over to Canadian authorities.
He is due back in court Nov. 3 and has a trial date scheduled for Jan. 17. Flesher is in custody at Lake County Jail.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
