HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Kansas man arrested on June 21 after a fire and explosion at the Plaza Towers building on 2nd Avenue in Hutchinson now faces five felony counts.

On Thursday, Chase Coble, 22, Hutchinson, was charged with three counts of aggravated arson with substantial risk of great bodily harm and two counts of criminal use of explosives.

The first three counts are level three felonies with a maximum sentence on each count of over 20-years in prison.

He was experimenting with plastic and chemicals and it got out of hand, according to police.

He was using chemicals to make black powder to use in explosives, but he claims he wasn’t doing that.

The chemicals he had were all toxic and volatile according to authorities.

The fire and explosion caused significant damage to the apartment on the 12th floor of the Towers building and also some damage to the apartment below.
He asked for a bond reduction saying that his dad is paying for damages to the apartment and can’t afford to bond him. But, Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen denied the request citing the safety of the community, but also with the charges calling for presumptive prison, there is danger of flight risk.

Bond in the case is only set at $25,000 and the case now moves to waiver-status docket on July 27.