A homeless man accused of setting a fire that destroyed the old Pinball Pete’s arcade near the University of Michigan Central Campus last fall pleaded no contest to arson charges.

Fire gutted the vacant Pinball Pete's building last fall.

Court records indicate Justin Arens, 21, pleaded to single counts of preparation to burn and arson of real property. Ahrens made the plea during a pre-trial conference in Washtenaw County Circuit Court.

A felony charge of arson of personal property exceeding $20,000 will be dismissed at sentencing on Feb. 22.

A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes in Michigan.

Arens was arrested by Ann Arbor police following a tip about a month after the Oct. 24 fire gutted the vacant building in the 1200 block of South University Avenue.

Justin Arens

No one was injured, but the nighttime fire caused the evacuation of nearby buildings, including the University Towers high-rise. Ian MacKenzie, his alleged accomplice, also faces arson charges and is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing later this month.

Both Arens and MacKenzie remain in custody on $100,000 and $50,000 bonds, respectively.

Police believe the two were illegally staying in the building, which had become a haven for loiterers since 2001, and used gasoline to start the blaze. They have not disclosed a motive for the fire.

Art Aisner is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com.