In the spring and summer of 2014 Vernon residents were put on edge by a long series of arson fires.
Targets included boats, motor homes and abandoned buildings. Now arson charges have been laid in connection with 19 of those cases including the Kin Race Track fire.
“It is nice to have a little bit of closure on this issue. It’s something that has hung over our heads for awhile and had a huge impact on the society because it precluded us from holding races at the track,” said Ed Woolley the vice-president of the Okanagan Equestrian Society.
“I anticipate we would have had races in subsequent years but for this fire taking out our grandstands”
Read More: Vernon race track fire was arson
In June, William Munton, 55, was charged in connection with four incidents. This week that was expanded. He’s now facing 19 arson charges related to separated incidents that took place between May and November of 2014.
Munton is charged with 18 counts of arson damaging property and one count of arson in relation to inhabited property. The inhabited property charge is related to an incident on October 16, 2014 at a duplex that was under construction in the 2700 block of 41st Avenue.
Read More: Another suspicious fire in Vernon
The mayor hopes the latest developments in this case provide relief for Vernon residents.
“We’ll see what the courts say,” said Mund.
“Hopefully this is the person that RCMP were looking for and the community can go back to enjoying their lives.”
Munton’s case is back in court on November 3. He is not currently in custody.
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