A Langley man is accused of starting a fire that burned a newspaper box and the side of the Clinton Post Office in January, according to court documents.

Stephan McCary, 31, appeared in Island County Superior Court June 14. The judge found probable cause existed to believe McCary may have committed the crime of reckless burning in the first degree. The judge ordered him not to go the Clinton Post Office while the case is pending.

A post office employee came to work in the morning of Jan. 19 and discovered burned cardboard next to a melted newspaper box. The fire also scorched the siding on the building.

A deputy with the Island County Sheriff’s Office who was investigating noticed McCary riding through the parking lot on a scooter. The deputy spoke to McCary, who appeared to have ash on his sleeve and soot on his hands, the report states. McCary denied burning the newspaper box but said he burns cardboard from the post office to stay warm in the woods.

Video from the post office showed McCary frantically stomping on a fire and then leaving the area on his scooter, the deputy’s report states.