MUSKEGON, Mich. — On Wednesday Bruce Potter, the man being charged with setting a fire at the still-under-construction Boys & Girls Club of the Muskegon Lakeshore, waived his right to a preliminary hearing.
The fire caused up to $7 million in damage, Potter has been charged with 3rd-degree arson, a felony charge that has a maximum penalty of 10 years, and lying to a police officer, which carries a max of 2 years if convicted.
Since Potter waived his right to a preliminary trial the case is now on its way to circuit court and he will head to trial.
Potter is being held on a $5,000 bond for the charge of lying to a police officer and a $20,000 bond for the arson charge. His bond has not been posted.
During the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 12, police said the suspect set fires inside the facility beginning in the clubhouse and fitness center area.
A $30,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.
After nearly three months of investigating, Potter was arrested in November for the crime.
"We're grieving a loss, this was our clubhouse, this was going to be our building for the community and our youth," said Monica Turnbull, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club. "And so it's so devastating for us."
The Boys and Girls Club of the Lakeshore launched a multi-million dollar project to update the property with a climbing wall, a STEM lab, an artist studio, a teen lounge, game rooms, a cafeteria and more.
Work on the clubhouse had been scheduled to be completed by fall 2023, and was set to hold an open house on Thursday, Aug. 24.
However, due to the damage, they're pushing back their reopening celebrations. Officials now expect the repairs and finishing touches to be completed in six months to a year.
The bulk of repairs come from soot and smoke. The 90,000-square-foot building will need all new air handlers for their geo-thermal system.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke to Muskegon County prosecutor DJ Hilson, who is also president of the board for the Boys and Girls Club, after the arson took place.
"Unfortunately, this incident has delayed our ability as an organization to open this up to the kids and to the community," said Hilson.
But this inconvenience isn't going to stop the organization from reaching its goals.
“You know, certainly if the person's attempt was to try and stop Boys and Girls Club from serving the youth of this community, that is not going to happen," said Hilson. “We'll be working with our contractors and our insurance company to make sure that any damage is taken care of, in that construction will proceed.”
Donations can be made on their website here.
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