By admin 
MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ (AZFamily) — A former feed store employee who was fired for photographing bikini baristas at a nearby coffee stand returned to the New River business weeks later and set fire to its hay supply, according to deputies.
Read more Chandler man threatened to run over kids at recess, stab Gov. Hobbs, docs say
Noah Ross, 23, is charged with arson, burglary and criminal damage in connection with the fire at Three Bars Feed and Tack in New River.
Midnight fire destroys hay yard
Deputies were called to the business around midnight on June 30 after a fire broke out, destroying all of the shop’s hay and a storage container. Owner Lynn Ineson said the loss totaled $60,000 in inventory.
“This is what our hay yard looks like this morning,” Ineson said. “We have been sad. We have cried. We have been scared, and now we are angry.”
Investigators quickly ruled out an accidental cause. Ineson said surveillance showed someone entering the property just before midnight and igniting the Bermuda hay.
A month-old grudge
The investigation soon turned to Ross, who had been fired from the store a month earlier. According to court documents, Ross had taken photos of workers at Bikini Beans while driving a company truck, then showed the photos to his managers, prompting his termination.
Digital evidence connected him to the fire. Detectives said the feed store’s Wi-Fi network logged a phone labeled “Noah” connecting just before the fire started, and cell tower records placed Ross at the scene. Investigators said he later returned to the burned property wearing a GoPro-style camera and asked about the status of the investigation.
Read more Tucson Montessori teacher takes students on field trips every month
Court documents note Ross was already on probation for sexual conduct with a minor at the time of the fire.
Suspect describes the crime as ‘something fun’
Ross eventually confessed to detectives, according to court documents. He said he and a friend had been drinking beer and whiskey on the property when they decided to “do something fun.” While his friend cut a security camera wire, Ross used a torch lighter to set the hay bales ablaze, documents state.
“Had Daisy Mountain not responded, I can’t imagine what would’ve happened,” Ineson said.
Three Bars Feed and Tack released a statement following Ross’s arrest: “We are deeply thankful for everyone who helped our business and community through a difficult time.”
Ross is expected to appear in court Tuesday.
See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.
Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.
Read more Arizona scores a ‘C’ on maternal mental health report card