The arson and aggravated assault charges were withdrawn against the Lehigh County man charged with setting his property ablaze Oct. 29.

Hiram Thomas Dale, 76, of Coopersburg, waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday in Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier’s courtroom. The charges of arson, aggravated arson and aggravated assault were withdrawn. Those of risking a catastrophe and recklessly endangering another person were waived for court. The case now goes to the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.

Hale admitted to West Penn Township Police Nov. 24 he ran into problems trying to renovate the building at 521 Golf Road. Police, fire companies and emergency personnel from the surrounding area responded to the scene of the Villas Crossing Golf Course at 10:15 a.m. Oct. 29. The call came in as a burn barrel on fire that ignited an adjacent building. Dale was on scene.

His story changed several times about the fire before telling police “he lit the fuel oil rags” at two locations in the building, which did not have insurance.