Joel Garber, the Barnesville man who is charged with setting his Ryan Township house ablaze Dec. 26 had his charges held for Schuylkill County court Wednesday.

Garber participated via video conference from the Schuylkill County Prison for a scheduled preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Thomas Xavios. State police at Frackville charged Garber with three felonies for the fire at 20 Sherwood Drive, arson-danger of death or bodily injury, arson-intent to destroy unoccupied building and risking catastrophe. He is also charged with a misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person.

Police say Garber said he “thinks he flicked a few (matches),” while at the home.

Police responded to the area of Hillside Drive and Sherwood Drive for a suspicious male walking in the middle of the road, who was later determined to be Garber. Trooper Thomas Reese said Garber was acting “erratically” while walking and appeared to be suffering from “mental health and drug-related issues.”

Reese said he drove Garber to his house, leaving him in the front bedroom where state police fire marshal John Burns determined the fire was intentionally set.

Reese responded back to the home less than 90 minutes later, finding smoke and fire in the bedroom.