UE File Photo
By Jordan Wilcox
Assistant Publisher
Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, September 2nd, firefighters were dispatched to Otsego’s Northside Park to battle a horrific blaze. While the flames remained contained to a small 20-by-40-foot area, the park’s beloved wooden play structure, known to many as “Castle Park,” was unfortunately a complete loss.
Afterwards, many residents were left confused and puzzled. Once authorities began to suspect arson was involved, everyone had the same two questions: Who would do this, and why?
This led to an extensive search by the Otsego Police Department, who knew that with no witnesses or surveillance cameras at the park, determining the culprit would be a difficult task. However, a lucky break came when detectives noticed two suspects on the camera system of nearby A&E Electric.
Authorities revealed the suspects as 37-year-old Michael Kilbourn of Otsego and his nephew, whose name was withheld because he is a minor
The nephew was brought in for questioning, and about a week after the fire, Kilbourn turned himself in to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office for unrelated warrants. During the questioning, the nephew admitted to helping burn down the play structure with his uncle. He told investigators that his uncle told him they were going to “burn something,” and handed him clothes to stuff in between the wooden structure, then gave him a torch to light it. He said went along with the plan because he was afraid of his uncle.
Kilbourn was uncooperative during his initial questioning but later corroborated his nephew’s story.
On Monday, September 23rd, Otsego’s Director of Police and Fire, Brad Misner, announced that his department had filed three charges against Kilbourn: third-degree arson, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and habitual fourth-offense. At his October 13th plea hearing, he pled guilty to third-degree arson, but the latter two charges were dropped in exchange.
A third-degree arson charge was also filed against the nephew.
Meanwhile, while the arson was being litigated, Kilbourn was also awaiting sentencing on three other cases in Allegan County and a trial for a case in St. Joseph County. One of the other Allegan County cases was a breaking and entering situation, which, coincidentally, Kilbourn missed his September 2nd sentencing hearing for.
Both the arson and B&E cases came to a close though, on Monday, October 27th. Judge Matthew Antkoviak sentenced Kilbourn to 57 months to 10 years in prison, not only for third-degree arson, but also for breaking and entering a building with intent, malicious destruction of property, and stolen property, all related to the B&E incident.
“Over 20 times you have had some interaction with the criminal justice system,” Antkoviak said. “That suggests to the court that you are incapable of controlling your behaviors or you just simply don’t care.”
During the trial, Kilbourn expressed that he lit the park on fire “willingly and maliciously,” but also apologized for his actions, stating, “I know what I did was wrong, and I am sorry for that. I do have a problem with the way I think, and I do need help.” A main tenet of his attorney’s argument was that he suffers from mental health and substance abuse issues.
Monday’s sentences join a long list of prior convictions held by Kilbourn. According to the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office, he has five prior felonies, including but not limited to breaking and entering, drug possession, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Northside Park reopened a few days after the incident. The City of Otsego has filed an insurance claim and hopes to rebuild the affected portion next spring.
