Kody Derner pleaded guilty in Lavaca County on August 12, 2025, to one count of felony vehicle arson and admitted starting six hay bale fires dating to 2024.
The Hallettsville Police Department arrested Derner in April 2025, and the Lavaca County Attorney’s Office charged him with the felonies in June. The arrest came after a State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) investigation into two vehicle fires and a storage building at a hotel in Hallettsville. Analysis of Derner’s cell phone and geolocation data provided evidence of the arson and the other hay bale fires.
Derner was sentenced to four years in prison and must pay the fire victims over $24,000. Another arson case is pending against Derner in Harris County.
The City of Humble Fire Marshal’s Office and the Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office also helped with the case.
SFMO is a division of the Texas Department of Insurance. You can report suspected arson to the SFMO at 800-578-4677.