By Patti Weaver
(Stillwater, Okla.) — A 38-year-old Cushing man, who admitted that he had set grass fires around his residence, was placed on 10 years of probation except for serving 90 days in jail, as part of a plea agreement with the prosecution approved in court on Dec. 20.
Jerrod Lynn Ward was ordered by Associate District Judge Stephen Kistler to have evaluations for mental health along with substance abuse, follow any recommendations, undergo random drug tests, provide a DNA sample, perform 80 hours of community service, and enroll in Work Force Oklahoma.
Ward must also pay a $960 prosecution fee, a $500 fine and $100 to the victims’ compensation fund under the judge’s order. No restitution was sought, the judge was advised in court.
Ward was arrested on Oct. 26 at 9:34 pm by Payne County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Wheeler, who had been sent to the area of Ward’s rural residence in the 2400 block of E. 5th at 5:13 pm “for a fire, which was possibly caused by arson,” according to his affidavit.
“Upon my arrival, the fire had already been extinguished by Cushing Fire Department,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
A neighbor said he saw two separate grass fires in Ward’s yard, one in the front and another on the side near the driveway and carport, the affidavit said.
The neighbor said he called 911 and began to put the fire out, the affidavit said.
He said, “he observed his neighbor, Jerrod Ward, walking eastbound on 5th Street, ‘completely out of it,"” the affidavit said.
He said, “he was screaming at Jerrod asking him what’s going on and if he is okay. (He) stated Jerrod never replied and kept walking,” crossing the electric fence to the south of K.W. Well Services, the affidavit said.
The neighbor said that after he lost sight of the defendant, a few minutes later he saw black smoke rising above the trees, the affidavit said.
When the neighbor returned to the defendant’s residence, he said, “Jerrod walked to the carport and sat down,” the affidavit said.
After the neighbor asked what was going on, the defendant finally replied, “I don’t know,” the affidavit said.
“Jerrod asked me, ‘What did I do?"” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“I informed him there had been a few small fires and his (relative) was worried about him. Jerrod turned around and placed his hands behind his back. I informed him that he was not under arrest at this point,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“I asked Jerrod if he had been drinking. He replied saying, ‘Yeah, I drank a little, but I didn’t go nowhere. I pointed out the two spots of grass that were charred black from the fire.
“Jerrod admitted he had lit the fires. I asked him how he started the fires. He replied saying ‘with a lighter.’
“I then asked him why he set the fires. He replied saying, ‘I tried to set this house on fire,"” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
“I asked him why. He stated, ‘I am just sick of it’ and ‘I got people f……wth me.’
“Jerrod did not know who it was that was messing with him, but said he was just sick of it. Jerrod informed me he is just having a hard time.
“At this point in time, I informed Jerrod he was now under arrest for arson and public intoxication.
“All actions were captured on my department-issued Axon Body Camera,” the deputy wrote in his affidavit.
