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Home : News : Local : Kent County :

Photo

William Howerton, 57, at his arraignment in Kent County (July 23, 2012)

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William Howerton now faces Kent Co. arson charges

Updated: Thursday, 02 Aug 2012, 3:52 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 02 Aug 2012, 3:35 PM EDT

GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) - A man who admitted to burning American flags at two Ottawa County government facilities and now faces arson charges in Kent County was in court Thursday morning.

Wiliam Howerton is accused of burning a flag at a Comerica Bank branch on Wilson on March 19 and also lighting a sign on fire in the Yankee Candle store in Rivertown Crossings that same day.

Thursday morning, Howerton appeared in the Grandville District Court for a preliminary hearing on the arson charge. He didn't have an attorney and asked for one to be appointed by the court.

Howerton told the judge he has been suspended from his job at the post office.

The hearing was rescheduled for Aug. 23.

Howerton was originally arrested July 11 after Ottawa County Sheriff's investigators say he blazed a trail up and down Chicago Drive Tuesday night through Hudsonville and Jenison, setting fire to at least eight flags along the way, including two at Hudsonville City Hall. He pleaded guilty to two charges in that case.