SAGINAW, MI — In early 2023, derelict motels in Saginaw County began going up in flames. Investigators identified a Mount Morris teen as a suspect, who allegedly confessed to setting 40 fires in two counties.
A year on, the teen has pleaded guilty to an arson charge, though he may avoid prison time or having a felony conviction on his record.
Andrew J. Shank, 19, on March 18 appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Andre R. Borrello and pleaded guilty to third-degree arson. The felony is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000 or three times the value of what was damaged.
Shank’s advisory sentencing guidelines have been calculated at zero to 17 months. Additionally, Borrello indicated he would sentence Shank to probation under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act.
The act allows a judge to place a defendant between the ages of 17 and 26 in jail or on probation without a conviction. If the defendant successfully completes the terms of the judge’s sentence, they avoid having a criminal record.
The series of fires began the night of Jan. 7, 2023, at the former Welcome Inn & Suites in Buena Vista Township, 3245 E. Holland Ave. The building had been set for demolition since 2019.
The next night, the abandoned Days Inn Hotel, 6379 Dixie Hwy in Bridgeport Township, also was set on fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire within minutes as they were able to latch onto an internal fire suppression pipe system, but usage was limited because the system had small breaks in it that reduced water pressure.
The night of Feb. 7, another fire sparked in the same Days Inn. Crews arrived to find smoke emanating from the fourth floor, with flames soon visible from the third floor.
On entering the structure, crews found multiple rooms on fire. They extinguished the fires without suffering any injuries.
The building had been purchased by new owners in November 2021, who planned to redevelop and repurpose it. Within a day of the blaze, investigators determined it had been intentionally set.
Bridgeport Township police arrested Shank on Feb. 8, 2023, four days after his 18th birthday. Shank was also under investigation by the Mount Morris Police Department for a series of fires in their jurisdiction. Interviewed by a Mount Morris police detective, Shank confessed to setting nearly 40 fires in abandoned buildings in Saginaw and Genesee counties, prosecutors allege.
“Specifically, Defendant’s stated MO is to specifically target abandoned buildings,” prosecutors wrote. “Therefore, the People submit that he is dangerous to the community as setting fires to abandoned buildings is not only dangerous to neighboring structures but dangerous to police and firefighters who must respond to these fires.”
Shank remains charged in Genesee County Circuit Court with four counts of arson and one count of malicious destruction of property.
Judge Borrello is to sentence Shank on May 1.
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