A couple from Nappanee face charges for a string of barn fires in Elkhart County.

Joseph Hershberger, 41, faces eight counts of arson for eight barn fires that happened between April and October. He also faces one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Hershberger’s girlfriend, 32-year-old Sherry Thomas, faces one count of arson and one count of attempted contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Hershberger admitted to police that he started multiple barn fires, according to court documents, and said he and Thomas would take turns pouring the gasoline and setting the barns ablaze.

Thomas told police she was with Hershberger when he set some of the fires. Police were able to track her phone to the scene of all of the barn fires, except for one.

Thomas also admitted that, on Oct. 1, Hershberger tried to convince her 11-year-old son to start one of the fires.

Hershberger is being held on a $500,000 bond. An initial hearing is set for Dec. 10. A court date for Thomas has not been announced.