A preliminary hearing is scheduled next week for Michael Simpson, the St. Joe man charged with setting fire to vehicles at the St. Jo Frontier Casino.

Investigators say the fire department was dispatched to the area September 30. According to the probable cause statement, three vehicles were found burning at 777 Winners Circle Drive and at 4022 Waterworks Road.

The court document asserts that security video shows Simpson starting one of the fires inside the passenger compartment of one of the vehicles. At the time of Simpson’s arrest, officers say Simpson had in his possession some stolen property from two vehicles in the parking lot.

The defendant’s arraignment was rescheduled from last week, when Associate Judge Keith Marquart disqualified himself because he knew one of the victims.

During a video hearing Tuesday, Associate Judge Rebecca Spencer scheduled a preliminary hearing October 20 and entered a plea of not guilty on Simpson’s behalf. He is applying for a public defender and remains in custody, unable to post $50,000 cash bail.

At the end of the video hearing, Mr. simpson took the opportunity to say “hi Dad” to his father, who was seated in the courtroom.