Jochen Wiest, the 29-year-old man accused of setting one of the Toomer's Oak trees on fire early Sunday morning, has been released on bond, according to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones.
Wiest was released on a $4,500 bond Tuesday afternoon, Jones said.
Per conditions of his release, Wiest, a native of Germany, surrendered his passport and is not allowed to leave the state.
Wiest is married with two young children. He is an Auburn resident and, until Sunday, was an employee of Baxter International, an Illinois-based health care company with a plant in Opelika.
"We are aware of the unfortunate situation surrounding the Toomer’s Corner tree fire in Auburn," a Baxter spokesperson told The Plainsman. "We can confirm that Mr. Wiest is a Baxter employee. He has been suspended and will not be reporting for work at Baxter’s facility in Alabama."
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