SIOUX FALLS, (KELO) — Jerimiah Stange, 31, of Pringle, S.D., is charged with nine felony counts related to starting fires in the Pringle area from August 28 to September 30, 2024.
Stange faces six counts of Reckless Burning or Exploding — a class 4 felony, each carrying a sentence of up to 10-years and up to a $20,000 fine — two counts of 2nd degree arson — a class 4 felony carrying up to 10-years and up to a $20,000 fine — and one count of 1st degree arson — a class 2 felony carrying up to 25-years and up to a $50,000 fine.
The nine fires were started in nine locations in and around Pringle, including fires at the cemetery, a property across the street from Stange’s residence, and on the property where Stange lived.
On the day that the 8th fire was set, an affidavit in the case states that a car registered to Stange’s significant other was caught on camera driving on the property about an hour before the fire was reported.
Lt. Steve McMillin with the Custer County Sheriff’s Office wrote in the affidavit that he the County Sheriff and a DCI agent had all interviewed Stange throughout the process, and that Stange eventually confessed to starting all of the fires.
According to the affidavit, Stange told investigators that on the day of the first fire, he’d gotten into an argument with his significant other, who was at work, and had decided to drive his car (which was registered to his girlfriend) into a tree.
Rather than crashing his car, Stange instead decided to light a fire with trash in his car, saying he did not expect the fire to spread, as it was cool that night. On this night and other occasions, Stange left his three kids — 8 years old, 4 years old and 9 months old — at home alone and asleep. On two other occasions he had his children in the car with him while starting fires, he told investigators.
As to the fire on the property he lived at, Stange told investigators that he had lit the fire with the intention of making it appear that he was a victim of arson instead of a suspect — lighting a trailer near the home on fire while home alone with his 9-month-old.
The affidavit says this fire was started 10-yards from the home, and feet from a propane tank that Stange told investigators leaked propane.
For three of the nine fires, Stange told investigators that his motivation came from anger at another local family.
It is noted in the affidavit that all the fires were started at a time when the area was under a Ted Flag Warning due to lack of moisture, and that several were set at night.
