Jason James Pronger in Rockhampton court accused of Oasis Church arson

The case against a Gympie man accused of burning down a Central Queensland church then taking his clothes off has returned to court.

Neighbours captured this photo of the fire at Oasis Church on August 27.

There has been an update in the case of a man accused of burning down a Rockhampton church in court.

Jason James Pronger, 33, from Gympie, was charged with one count of arson following a fire that destroyed Rockhampton’s Oasis Church on Glenmore Road, Park Avenue, on August 27, 2023.

Photos shared from Queensland Ambulance of the fire at Oasis Church on August 27.

His case was mentioned in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 10 by solicitor Oscar Millroy, who said his client’s matter was proceeding through the Mental Health Court.

Mr Millroy said a hearing was listed on October 1 and sought his client’s matter be adjourned to a date afterward.

He said his client was on bail.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert adjourned Mr Pronger’s matter to October 14 and enlarged his bail to that date.

Emergency services at the scene of a fire which destroyed Oasis Church on August 27.

Firefighters were called to the blaze about 2am on August 27 and it took several hours to contain the inferno, using aerial spraying and machinery to pull down the structure.

Five fire trucks battled the blaze for hours, with the last crew leaving more than nine hours later.

About 8.30am, Mr Pronger was allegedly located by a stranger near Kershaw Gardens.

The stranger contacted police and clothed Mr Pronger so he would not be naked when they arrived.

Photos taken by Kent Murray of the fire destruction at Oasis Church on August 27.

Mr Pronger was then taken into custody and later charged with one count of arson.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley said a trail of clothing was found around Bob’s Bulk Booze and Domino’s shops nearby.

During a bail application on August 29, 2023, police prosecutor Corey O’Connor told the court Mr Pronger was “found afterwards laughing about what had happened” and “asking about other churches in Rockhampton”.

Originally published as Jason James Pronger in Rockhampton court accused of Oasis Church arson