This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A 46-year-old West Jordan man was charged Friday with setting a series of field fires in Salt Lake County during the summer.

Brien O'Neil Kelly, of West Jordan, was charged in 3rd District Court with 12 counts of third-degree felony arson for fires that occurred in the southwest part of the county between July 15 and Aug. 21, in the southwest part of the county.

Each count is punishable by up to five years in prison. No court dates were immediately set.

Kelly, who was arrested Thursday, was being held at the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Charging documents state that Kelly started the following intentionally set fires:

— On July 15, three field fires were set at 7586 W. Rose Canyon Road, 7509 Mountain Top Road and Bacchus Highway (U-111) and 12000 South, causing an estimated $2,000 in damage. A homeowner, whose fence was damaged, had to use a hose to prevent flames coming closer to his home. A photo on Kelly's phone places him at the scene prior to any fire engines arriving, and phone data places him near Rose Canyon in close proximity to the fires, charges state.

— On Aug. 8, four field fires were set at 13800 S. Redwood Road, 13972 S. Redwood Road, 14805 S. Camp Williams Road and 16813 S. Camp Williams Road. The fires burned about 5 acres, and one fire came within 50 feet of homes. Kelly, who as driving a large, white box truck was observed at several of the fires by authorities. He alerted a police officer to the second fire, and he also "blurted" to a police officer "that he was going to jail without any indication that he was a suspect," charges state.

— On Aug. 15, three field fires were set at 9200 S. 5600 West, 9800 S. U-111 and 6600 W. Crimson Drive. Several red-tipped wooden matches were found in the area of origin of the fires. A blue Toyota Scion, similar to one owned by Kelly, was observed on surveillance footage where the fire started, charges state.

— On Aug. 21, three field fires were set at 7200 W. Rose Canyon Road, 7336 W. Rose Canyon Road, and 15195 S. Rose Canyon Road — the same area as the July 15 fires. About 2 acres burned causing an estimated $1,500 damage. The fire came within 40 yards of home and 20 yards of outbuildings. Several homes were evacuated. A resident reported seeing a blue car matching the description of Kelly's vehicle, charges state.

— On Aug. 21, soon after the Rose Canyon Road fires were set, two field fires were intentionally set in Suncrest, at 1688 Deer Ridge Drive and 15183 Elk Glen Drive. Several homes were evacuated and homeowners risked their safety attempting to extinguish the fires, which caused damage to several homes, charges state. Two residents provided investigators with surveillance footage of a blue Scion in the area minutes before the fires started. Kelly admitted to an investigator he was at the fires, charges state.

— On Aug. 21, shortly after the Suncrest fires started, two field fires were intentionally set at 4500 N. East Frontage Road, in Lehi.

Kelly later provided police with information about his whereabouts that day, but statements from witnesses and surveillance video confirm that he was not where he claimed he was, charges state.

A search of Utah court records shows Kelly pleaded guilty in 2011 in 2nd District Court in Bountiful to class B misdemeanor assault, and disorderly conduct, an infraction. He was sentenced to probation, which included completing domestic violence classes.