WATERLOO -- The lawyer for one of two men accused of setting fire to three UNI buildings during 2005 homecoming said his client should be let out of jail until his arson trial.

Attorney John Hines, who is representing Tanner Wilkens, 24 and of West Des Moines, said during a Friday hearing that Wilkens isn't at risk to flee.

He said his client, who is charged with three counts of first-degree arson and one count of second-degree arson, is a budding Internet entrepreneur who would live and help on the family farm while he awaits his day in court.

Prosecutor Linda Fangman countered that police found hundreds of pirated DVDs as well as drugs and scales at the home Wilkens shares with codefendant Aaron Scott Lessmeier, 21.

Wilkens' bond was earlier set at $775,000, and District Court Judge Thomas Bower turned down Hines's request to lower it to $250,000.

He noted the nature of the offense is substantial and pointed to ongoing unrelated investigations by other agencies.

Wilkens and Lessmeier were arrested Jan. 22 in the Oct. 16, 1005, blazes that caused a combined $17 million damage to Gilchrist, Lang and Baker halls during homecoming festivities.

They also are charged with setting a portable toilet alight.

Hines said Wilkens has an associate's degree from Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and works buying cars for his stepfather's automobile dealership in Kansas City.

Wilkens also runs a Web site that sells fashion T-shirts and sells other items through eBay, Hines said.

During the hearing, he displayed a T-shirt with a photo of a tree that Wilkens' took and awards from eBay for customer satisfaction.

Milissa Wright, the associate director of UNI Police Division, testified that police found marijuana, scales and 500 pirated DVD movies when she arrested Wilkens and Lessmeier.

The DVDs were found to have been copied in China, and that matter is being investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Wright said. West Des Moines authorities handled the drug investigation.

Under cross-examination, she said the amount of marijuana located in their home was small.

Hines suggested the scales could be used to weigh packages for mailing in connection with Wilkens' Internet businesses.

Fangman said all three building fires placed students, staff, firefighters and police at risk.

Lessmeier has also requested a bond reduction, and a hearing is scheduled for later this month.

UNI police also arrested UNI student Paul Joseph Cain, 24, and Randy Joseph Wilkens, 21, for of perjury for giving false statements during the arson investigation. Their bond was set at $20,000, and they have been released pending trial.

Contact Jeff Reinitz at (319) 291-1578 or jeff.reinitz@wcfcourier.com.