The man accused of started fires at the Miami Valley Christian Academy Monday was found by police lying in the grass watching the flames, police said.
Caleb Thomas Holbert, 18, is charged with felony arson.
Newtown police said he lived near the school, but had no other connection to it.
"There appears to be no motive to indicate a hate crime, anger at the school or ideological belief (tied to) the incident," Chief Tom Synan said.
Officers responded to the school just after 3 a.m. for a report of a dumpster fire. According to a police report, two trailer buildings were found fully engulfed and a gas nozzle was found nearby.
Investigators said they encountered Holbert soon after arriving at the scene and thought he might be injured.
"Holbert advised me that he was not injured and that he was simply watching the fire," an officer wrote.
The ATF was called to the scene and a trained dog signaled that both the site of the fire and Holbert smelled of an accelerant.
Officers said several windows were broken and Holbert had attempted to set the artificial turf field ablaze as well.
Investigators said they reviewed the school's security cameras and saw a person matching Holbert's build and dress appearing to set the fires. Court documents state the fire caused approximately $100,000 in damage.
Holbert is being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a $100,000 bond. His cases is slated to be presented to a grand jury on June 10.
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