A 20-year-old man was charged with arson Tuesday in Douglas County District Court for setting a small fire at the Jacksonville Apartments in the 700 block of Monterey Way.

Anthony Stephen Hobson was arrested Monday by a Lawrence police officer after reportedly setting fire to a pen that was lying on a wooden railing at the apartment where he lived.

Little damage was reported and a lighter was recovered at the scene.

Hobson was released from Douglas County Jail after his hearing.

Under the terms of his release, Hobson is to live with and be supervised by his parents. He shouldn’t return to Lawrence or the Jacksonville Apartments without supervision.

His mother, Mary Hobson, Ozawkie, said during the hearing that her son has the mental capacity of an 11-year-old boy and that she didn’t believe that he realized what he was doing.

She said he just recently moved into his own place.

“Tony’s never been in trouble,” she said. “He’s a good kid.”

Hobson’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 5.