Millersville man pleads innocent in bonfire blast

The Millersville man accused in a bonfire explosion that seriously burned partygoers pleaded innocent Monday to 14 counts of second-degree assault.

Prosecutors say Jerry Lee Self Jr. , 22, tossed a five-gallon gasoline can onto the fire during a rural Cape Girardeau county party Jan. 17. He was released on $75,000 bond Saturday.

Self's attorney, Wayne Keller, last week asked for a bond reduction for his client, but Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp denied the request.

The party was in a pasture at 3901 County Road 621. At least 14 of the nearly 100 who attended had to seek medical treatment for burns, and one was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital and had surgery for third-degree burns on her legs.