The hearings for Joseph “Joey” Roberts, 24, of Atoka and Brandi Byrd, 20, of Paris, were short, but the two University of Tennessee at Martin students charged in connection with the Oct. 23 explosion in downtown Martin will have their day in court early next year.

On Wednesday morning, General Sessions Judge Tommy Moore set Jan. 13 as the court date for Roberts and Byrd. Roberts is facing charges of criminal conspiracy, arson, reckless endangerment and fraud in connection with the explosion and fire. Byrd faces charges of conspiracy to commit extortion, arson and reckless endangerment.

The preliminary hearing was orginally scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 30, but the hearings were changed because of a scheduling conflict with Byrd’s attorney, James Bradberry of Dresden.

According to Martin police department reports, Roberts doused his 212 Lindell St. business, Universal Martial Arts, with 15 2-liter soda bottles filled with gasoline and ignited the blaze with a road flare. Byrd’s charges stem from the assistance she allegedly gave Roberts before and after the crime was committed, police said.

Police said the motive appears to be insurance-related.