A 46-year-old man from St. Lawrence Township is accused of burning his own home after the sheriff sold it in a foreclosure sale.

Scott County District Court charged Jerry Lee Pilsner with felony arson and theft in connection with a fire that destroyed his home at 21846 Sielaff Drive on Jan. 28, according to the Belle Plaine Herald. Early next month, Pilsner is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case.

The home, located north of Highway 169 near the Hot Spot gas station, was completely destroyed. The Belle Plaine Fire Department spent six hours on the scene and then came back several hours later, when it reignited. There were no injuries.

A state fire marshal investigation concluded that the fire started in the basement, near where a bed mattress and spring were salvaged, the Herald reported.

During the investigation, it was learned that the home had been sold for $315,000 at a sheriff's foreclosure sale on Aug. 2, 2007, and that the sale had a six-month redemption period with $520,617 due, according to the Herald. Pilsner's insurance policy on the home was set to expire two days after the fire, the newspaper said.

Pilsner met an acquaintance, Christine Anderson of Prior Lake, at a hotel the day after the fire. Anderson recorded the conversation, which included, according to the Herald:

- how he needs to pay the guy who did it;

- that the guy allegedly went through the window;

- "I don't know who did it";

- and that he couldn't wait any longer to do it because his insurance was going to run out.

Another witness recorded similar comments by Pilsner, the Herald said.