St. Charles, IL – An Indiana man accused of setting a massive apartment fire in Carpentersville will remain in custody as his criminal case moves forward, following a judge’s decision this week to grant a motion to detain.
According to the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, Garland H. McGhee III is charged with multiple felony offenses tied to a November apartment fire that destroyed an entire residential building and displaced dozens of families.
Prosecutors allege McGhee committed the arson on November 29, at the Meadowdale Apartments, located at 104 Meadowdale Court in Carpentersville, Illinois. Authorities say the fire caused extensive damage to a multi-unit building housing more than 20 families, with total losses exceeding $100,000.
McGhee faces the following charges:
- Aggravated arson, a Class X felony
- Residential arson, a Class 1 felony
- Arson causing personal property damage over $150, a Class 2 felony
- Criminal damage by fire exceeding $100,000, a Class 2 felony
During a January 20 pretrial detention hearing, prosecutors argued McGhee should remain jailed due to the severity of the alleged crimes and the risk posed to public safety. The judge agreed, ordering McGhee held at the Kane County Jail while the case remains pending.
Police say officers and fire personnel responded to reports of a structure fire late that night and quickly determined the blaze was intentional. The fire resulted in a total loss of the building and displaced 24 families, according to officials.
Carpentersville detectives led the investigation, working alongside the Indiana Department of Corrections and the FBI Chicago Field Office. McGhee was arrested in Indiana on January 14 and taken into custody without incident.
McGhee’s next court appearance is scheduled for January 28 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 311 at the Kane County Judicial Center. Authorities stress that the charges are allegations, and McGhee is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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