Ottawa flag burner arrested in Kent Co.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The man who was arrested in Ottawa County for burning the American flags on the Hudsonville City Hall flagpole was arrested this past Friday in Grandville on arson charges.

In a Kent County courtroom Monday, William Howerton was accused of burning another flag at a Comerica Bank branch on March 19 and also lighting a sign on fire in the Yankee Candle store in Rivertown Crossings that same day.

"I was kind of drunk at the time and I know I went off the deep end," he told a Kent County judge, adding, "That's just a figure of speech."

That day, he allegedly burned a flag on a pole outside the Comerica Bank on Wilson, then went into the Rivertown Crossings Mall to the Yankee Candle Company.

A sales clerk approached a man fitting Howerton's description to ask if he need any help. The man said no. But moments later, the man was gone and a passerby yelled that a large sign in the store's window was on fire.

His explanation Monday seemed to waver, calling it a prank at one point, then said it was possibly tied to a personality disorder.

Then he put the blame on his belief that 9/11 was an inside job.

"I don't hate America, I'm not an America hater," he said. "I just hate the evil oligarchy that's ruling over America and taking over. 9/11 was a kind of take over of America for the military industrial complex."

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On July 11, the 57-year-old postal worker was arrested and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. He faces a $500 fine or 93 days in jail for this misdemeanor and will be sentenced August 14 for his Ottawa County crime.

At that time, Howerton expressed anti-government sentiments during interviews with Ottawa County authorities and said he believed Sept. 11, 2001 was a hoax and was not perpetrated by terrorists, according to Bennett.

At his Ottawa County court appearance, Howerton said he was angry and should have found another way to protest other than burning flags.

"I was angry, full of rage," Howerton said at his arraignment via closed-circuit TV. "I chose to take it out on a symbol of America. That was a bad idea. I should have found other ways to protest or complain or whatever."

He has two court appearances scheduled in August, one in Kent County, one in Ottawa County. If convicted on the Kent County charges, he faces up to 10 years in prison.