Two men were charged last month in connection with a January fire outside of Glenville that destroyed a shed and thousands of dollars of machinery.

Jerimiah Coal Beaman, 18, of Wisconsin is charged with felony negligent fire. Nickolas Patrick Biwer, 19, of Austin is charged with felony negligent fire and misdemeanor theft. Their first appearances on the charges were Thursday.

Court documents state they were charged after a Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office deputy was dispatched Jan. 16 to abandoned property on 870th Avenue. Upon arrival, the deputy noticed a fully-engulfed barn.

Two silage wagons, four grain wagons, combine heads, 40 round bales, a silage wagon and a silage cutter were destroyed, with a total loss of $46,000. The barn’s estimated value was $50,000.

Footprints around the barn and residence were noticed, and an aerosol can was seized as evidence. Beaman was allegedly identified as a suspect in the fire, and a witness reportedly remembered Biwer telling her Beaman lit the hay in the barn with liquid and started it on fire during an underage drinking party.

Court documents state in an interview Biwer admitted he decided to go to the property with several other people. He said Beaman “found a can of starting fluid and started playing with it.” Biwer stated they received permission to use the property from the owner of the land.

A witness reportedly identified Beaman and Biwer as having started the fire. Court documents state Beaman, Biwer and several witnesses said they thought the fire was out when they left the residence at about 3 a.m.

A separate witness reportedly said Biwer and the other witness were playing with fire and made a flamethrower from a type of can. He said he believed Biwer and the other witness had used the spray can — he stated he did not see Beaman with it. He said Biwer started a hay bale on fire, but it did not stay lit for very long.

Beaman, who allegedly initially denied involvement in the fire, reportedly admitted he sprayed a hay bale, and Biwer started it on fire.

Biwer entered a provisional not guilty plea. A pre-trial hearing for him is scheduled for Oct. 6, and a jury trial is scheduled to start Oct. 10 if the case has not been settled by then.

Beaman requested a public defender. His next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday. Both Biwer and Beaman were released on their own recognizance.

Negligent fire carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.