San Antonio man with 'anti-government views' accused of setting a 5G cellphone tower on fire, records say

Two individuals authorities believe intentionally set fire to a 5G cellphone tower last year on the far West Side are in custody, according to court documents. One of the individuals — 19-year-old Coley Lane Dupre — was charged with arson on Monday. Her alleged accomplice, 28-year-old Sean Smith, has not been charged in connection with the incident but was arrested on unrelated charges, including drug and weapons possession and tampering with evidence. In May of 2021, police were called to the 1800 block of Hunt Lane after the cellphone tower was set on fire. The tower is located in a residential area near Marbach Road and Loop 410.

Surveillance video shows a man in an orange shirt and white hard hat setting the fire inside the tower, an affidavit supporting Dupre's arrest said. The police identified the pair after one of Smith's friends told police Smith had "anti-government views" that fueled his mission to burn down 5G cellphone towers, the court documents said. Police, according to the affidavit, said Dupre acted as Smith's lookout as he set fire to the tower. Surveillance footage showed Dupre and Smith walking toward the cellphone tower minutes before it went up in flames, the court documents said. Smith is being held without bond, while Dupre's bail was set at $50,000.