Suspected arsonist held without bond

Facebook photo

Michael Mock

An early morning fire Monday at the U.S. Forest Service fire camp at the Boundary County Fairgrounds is believed to have been deliberately set and a suspect, Michael F. Mock, 30, Bonners Ferry, was arrested for arson. According to a U.S. Forest Service incident report, two people were sleeping in the yurt, one of nine set up in the camp, when one woke to the smell of smoke, saw the fire on the opposite side, and got them both outside.

One of them got in their vehicle and began honking the horn, waking others, who called 911 and brought fire extinguishers to douse the fire as Bonners Ferry fire crews and law enforcement personnel arrived.

Mock, also a suspect in a fire that destroyed a family's game room on Birch Street September 10, remains in custody without bond on charges of first and second degree arson. He has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation for possible mental health issues.

If convicted of first degree arson, for burning an occupied structure, he faces up to 25 years in prison and/or a fine not to exceed $100,000. The penalty for second degree arson on conviction is up to 15 years in prison and/or up to a $75,000 fine.

On September 3, Mock was charged with misdemeanor commercial burglary and petit theft, to which he pled guilty and served two days of a 30-day sentence, was ordered to pay $307.50 in fines and costs and placed on one year probation.