Police charged a 20-year-old DeKalb man with aggravated arson Tuesday following an investigation into an early morning March 21 fire in the 1200 block of Varsity Boulevard.

DeKalb police said Christopher Hornbach was responsible for the fire that caused $100,000 in damages and forced several residents out of their homes due to smoke damage. His alleged motive or how the fire was started is still unknown.

The fire broke out at about 1:15 a.m. and 52 firefighters from eight departments contained it to one apartment. Most of the damage was caused by smoke.

Hornbach knew the woman who lived in the apartment where the fire originated and even lived there before, DeKalb Police Lt. Jim Kayes said.

He also burglarized the woman’s vehicle but took nothing of consequence, Kayes said.

Hornbach also faces additional charges of residential burglary, burglary to a vehicle and criminal trespass to a residence.

Hornbach’s arrest was not related to his March 23 altercation at Lord Stanley’s, 142 E. Lincoln Highway, Kayes said. Hornbach was arrested on that date for a separate incident.

DeKalb police said during that incident, Hornbach took a swing at staff attempting to escort him out of the establishment for being underage, although he did not make contact. He was held until officers arrived and a search turned up a socket wrench fashioned into a smoking device that also tested positive for THC.

He was charged with assault, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and alcohol and unlawful use of identification.

Aggravated arson is a Class X felony punishable by six to 30 years in prison. Residential burglary is a Class one felony punishable by four to 15 years in prison. Burglary to a vehicle is a Class 2 felony punishable by three to seven years in prison. Criminal trespass to a residence is a Class 4 felony punishable with one to three years in prison. Each charge also carries a $25,000 fine.

Hornbach is being held at the DeKalb County Jail on $50,000 bond.

The DeKalb Fire Department assisted in the investigation.

DeKalb Fire Chief Lanny Russell said DeKalb police detectives’ work on the case was “marvelous.”

“They had some limited initial information and they had to work very hard in order to get the evidence together,” Russell said. “They did a great job.”