New felony charge for Naperville man accused of burning protester's tent
A 71-year-old Naperville man already charged with arson after authorities said he set fire to a tent belonging to a well-known Naperville squatter had an additional felony charge tacked onto his case Tuesday morning.
James Povolo, of the 1300 block of Dartford Court, originally was charged with one felony count of arson and is free after posting $2,500 bail, authorities said. He turned himself in to Naperville police on July 26 after a $25,000 warrant was issued for his arrest.
On Tuesday morning, prosecutors also charged him with a felony count of criminal damage to property.
The fire, which was set about 2 p.m. July 18, burned the tent of Scott Huber, who has been camping outside various Naperville locations for nearly 15 years in a self-proclaimed protest of what he perceives as wrongdoing by city officials, whom he blames for the loss of his home, business and property.
Authorities said Povolo knew Huber was not inside the tent when he set it on fire just south of the Mobil gas station at Ogden Avenue and Naper Boulevard, destroying the dwelling and its contents.
Povolo is next due in court at 9 a.m. on Oct. 5.