A Niles man charged with allegedly setting fire to a garage in 2012 has been declared incompetent to stand trial.

Todd Lee Holmes, 44, was charged with arson of real property — a felony carrying a 10-year penalty — in Berrien County Trial Court in Niles in October.

Niles Police Detective Richard Krueger told the Daily Star in an October interview that Holmes admitted to setting a fire on the exterior of an unattached garage in the 1300 block of Merrifield Avenue in Niles on the evening of Dec. 1, 2012.

Krueger also said Holmes was living near the residence where the fire occurred at the time of the incident. Holmes was a suspect in the fire early on, but Krueger said Holmes went “off the grid” and the department couldn’t find him until more recently.

Judge Dennis Wiley ruled Monday that Holmes was unfit to stand trial at this time after receiving a report of a forensic examination administered on Holmes.

The report, which was read by Wiley Monday, said Holmes suffers from auditory hallucinations brought on by what Holmes believes are microchips placed in his body. Holmes said he believes the victims in the arson fire placed the microchips in his body, according to the report read by Wiley.

Holmes has been placed in the custody of the state’s Department of Mental Health for further treatment.

Assistant Prosecutor Amy Byrd said Monday Holmes could eventually be declared fit to stand trial if treatment is successful.