Man charged with setting Cedar Rapids apartment fire, asking landlord to replace damaged items

UPDATED: Erik M. Franks, 29, set fires in his Cedar Rapids apartment last week, then called his landlord to replace some property damaged by them, investigators said.

Franks lit the small fires in his apartment at 430 Jacolyn Dr. SW Friday, fire department spokesman Andy Olesen said. The fires didn't spread beyond the materials he used to set them, but when Franks returned Saturday morning he called the landlord to report a break-in and fires hoping to replace some damaged equipment.

The landlord called police, and the investigation led to a charge of first-degree arson. Franks was arrested Monday afternoon and released after an initial court appearance Tuesday morning.

If convicted, Franks faces up to 25 years in prison.

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