A Vernon Hills man was charged with attempted arson after prosecutors say he has lit approximately a half-dozen different fires at his apartment building in Vernon Hills.
Jesse P. Leibfried, 39, of Vernon Hills, was charged with one count of felony attempted residential arson.
Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Caitlin Valiulis said Leibfried lives in a two-story multi-unit apartment building.
Court records show he resides in the 800 block of Westmoreland Drive in Vernon Hills.
Vernon Hills police officers have been called to the location approximately six times from October 31 to November 23 for calls of Leibfried lighting things on fire.
Officers issued Leibfried an ordinance violation for nuisance through burning on November 2.
Officers were called back for another fire around 6:50 a.m. on November 23, Valiulis said during a bond hearing.
Leibfried had allegedly set garbage on fire inside his ground-floor apartment and threw the items outside onto the ground.
The items landed by the side of the building and officers found visible char marks on the building, Valiulis said.
They also recovered video footage showing the incident and Leibfried admitted to setting the items on fire and throwing them out the window.
Valiulis said that a neighbor who lives above Leibfried told officers that he is scared Leibfried will eventually set the entire building on fire.
An arrest warrant was issued for the man following the latest fire.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak ordered Leibfried held on a $100,000 bond.
He also barred the man from living or going to the apartment building.
Leibfried remains held in the Lake County Jail and would need to post $10,000 cash in order to be released.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday.