The Omaha World-Herald is reporting that the former Fire Chief in Missouri Valley plead not guilty, Monday, to simple misdemeanor charges of interference with official acts and reporting false information. The charges against 44-year old Johnnie Walker were with regard to allegedly false statements Walker made to Missouri Valley police, as authorities investigated a fire earlier this month at an abandoned house. Walker has stated he wasn’t available to fight the March 7th blaze at 105 W. Superior Street, because he was ill, and that he was not completely focused because of his illness, when he spoke later with police.

Investigators would not say what Walker told them or why they suspect he tried to mislead them. He has since resigned as chief of the volunteer department. John Ticer, an investigator with the State Fire Marshals Office, has said the fire on Superior Street might be connected to fires set in October in an abandoned house on the northeast corner of 10th and Granite Streets, on Missouri Valley’s south side. Missouri Valley Police Chief Edward Murray said each fire has a separate suspect, neither of whom is Walker. No arrests had been made as of Monday.

During Monday’s hearing, the judge told Walker that if he pleaded guilty he probably would be fined rather than receive jail time. The maximum sentence for each charge is 30 days in jail. Walker’s trial date was set for May 8th.