Security Guard Charged With Starting Fire on Universal Lot : Crime: The Tujunga man could face up to eight years in prison. Authorities believe they have uncovered sufficient circumstantial evidence.

A Universal Studios security guard was charged Friday with deliberately setting the fire that roared through the studio back lot he was hired to help protect, causing as much as $25 million in damage to historic sets and equipment.

Michael J. Huston, 40, of Tujunga was being held in the Los Angeles County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail, awaiting arraignment scheduled for Thursday.

Huston faces one count of arson of a structure in the Tuesday night fire that destroyed about 20% of Universal’s exterior sets and damaged parts of its studio tour attraction. If convicted, Huston could be sentenced to eight years in prison because damages were in excess of $100,000.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Norm Shapiro said Huston was assigned to protect several antique cars being used in the shooting of the Sylvester Stallone movie “Oscar” on the New York Street set. Sheriff’s arson investigators established that the fire began behind a building facade on that set. Huston was hired four weeks ago by Burns International Security Services, which contracts with Universal to provide a security force.

Although investigators have said Huston made “strong admissions” about his involvement in starting the fire, Shapiro said an intensive search at the fire scene also produced evidence.

“The investigation revealed that there was no accidental means,” Shapiro said. “It means it was set by human hand. We feel there is sufficient circumstantial evidence” to charge Huston, Shapiro said. “He is the one.”

Shapiro declined to comment on what is believed to be Huston’s motive for starting the fire. A source close to the investigation said arson experts are investigating the possibility that Huston set the fire in order to report it quickly and win praise as a hero.

Huston’s attorney, Charles R. English, said Friday that he had not reviewed the evidence against his client and expressed anger that he was denied access to Huston for 24 hours after the security guard’s arrest Wednesday morning.

English said sheriff’s deputies twice refused to allow him to visit Huston, telling him that his client was on “keep away” status in the jail because he was suicidal. English said deputies may have infringed on Huston’s rights by denying him access to his attorney.

Sheriff’s officials declined to comment on English’s claim Friday. But earlier this week, deputies said Huston was suicidal and that they had taken appropriate precautions.

English said that when he was allowed to interview Huston Thursday night, the suspect was emotionally upset. “He seemed very distraught, upset. He wanted to know why he couldn’t see his attorney,” English said.

However, English declined to make a judgment on whether Huston was suicidal. The attorney also refused to comment on statements by Huston’s family that the suspect is mentally disabled because of exposure to Agent Orange while serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and a more recent accident in which he suffered an electric shock.

Huston’s mother, Debra Dragusica, said repeated efforts to get psychiatric treatment and a disability compensation for her son from the Veterans Administration have been unsuccessful.

On Friday, a VA spokesman said Huston was a former patient at the VA Medical Center in Sepulveda but added that privacy laws prevented him from disclosing whether Huston was treated for mental or physical problems. The spokesman said the VA also could not reveal if Huston was ever granted or rejected classification as a disabled veteran.