Olathe ? A former Kansas University student suspected of setting 15 fires — including three in Lawrence — is in custody, officials said Wednesday.

David Ryan Jay, 23, surrendered Tuesday to law enforcement officials in Fontana, Calif. He was charged in Johnson County with one count of arson and one count of aggravated arson, though prosecutors expect to file more charges.

News of the arrest was a relief to Lawrence dentist Keith Jones, whose office on Country Club Terrace suffered minor damage in one of the fires March 10.

“I’ve just been crossing my fingers here they caught the guy and he doesn’t come back to finish what he started,” Jones said.

According to authorities’ version of events, after the last and most destructive of the 15 fires was set last Thursday in Olathe, the suspect apparently got in his car and started driving west.

On Monday, Jay called the Fontana Police Department from a convenience store. He told them he knew about 15 fires in Kansas and said he wanted to turn himself in, according to a Fontana Police news release. Fontana authorities knew nothing of the Kansas fires, but Jay provided enough information that police there contacted Johnson County officials.

During a news conference Wednesday morning, Johnson County Dist. Atty. Paul Morrison said Jay, who had been living in Olathe, would not fight extradition. His first appearance in Johnson County District Court could be later this week or early next week. His bond has been set at $1 million.

Jay was being held Wednesday in Fontana, and Johnson County and federal officials are expected to bring him back within the next few days.

Nobody but ‘Mr. Jay’

Morrison said authorities still were trying to determine what charges would be filed in the string of arsons, which occurred between March 7 and last Thursday. They caused no serious injuries but resulted in more than $8 million in damage.

Although the investigation is continuing, Morrison said, “We don’t have any reason to believe this involves anybody but Mr. Jay.”

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Douglas County Dist. Atty. Christine Kenney said she was considering filing federal charges in the Lawrence fires. Federal charges can be filed when damage involves items involved in interstate commerce.

In addition to the dentist office fire, Lawrence fires were March 8 at KU’s Watson Library and March 10 at Clinton Parkway Nursery and Garden Store, 4900 Clinton Parkway.

Jay has been charged in the blaze at an Olathe senior center under construction and another at the clubhouse of Millcreek Apartment complex in Olathe, where he lived.

Morrison said authorities still were looking for a motive for the string of fires, which apparently were set with a commercial accelerant used to start fires in fireplaces.

“Some people just like setting fires and watching them,” he said. “I think that’s about as good as it gets right now.”

Morrison said Jay had been a “lower priority suspect” in the case prior to his surrender Tuesday. He declined to say specifically why Jay had been considered among the suspects but said his parents had reported him missing shortly after the last fire was set.

“I don’t know why he came forward,” Morrison said, adding that Jay may have thought he eventually would have been caught.

Authorities said Jay had no known ties to Southern California.

‘Never in trouble’

Jay is a native of Beloit, 60 miles northwest of Salina, and a 1999 graduate of Beloit High School. He was enrolled at Kansas University as a physics major during the fall 1999, fall 2000 and spring 2001 semesters. He recently had lost his job at a restaurant, Morrison said, and lived alone.

John Bingesser, vice principal at Beloit High School, said he was surprised to learn Wednesday that Jay was an arson suspect.

“He was never in trouble,” Bingesser said. “He seemed like a good kid.”

Jay had vision problems and some allowances were made for him in class, Bingesser recalled.

“Other than that, everything was fine,” he said. “He wasn’t involved with much here at the high school.”

Steve Rugg, Beloit fire chief, said he had no knowledge of Jay setting fires in his hometown.

Johnson County officials said they didn’t think Jay had any criminal history.

A task force of more than 50 investigators from area police and fire departments had been working on the case. Capt. Schuyler Bailey, a spokesman for the KU Public Safety Office, said the group, which included about 10 agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, had worked well together.

“It’s complicated,” Bailey said of having so many agencies involved. “But it worked out great. And the people who called (with tips), we ran down a bunch of leads and I don’t know how many the whole task force did. We’re very appreciative.”

Staff writers Mike Belt and Eric Weslander contributed information to this report.