CHRISTIANSBURG -- A man accused of setting fire to a restaurant to cover up an embezzlement waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

James Robert Steele, 32, was arrested Jan. 30 and charged with arson, embezzlement and destruction of property in connection with a fire at the Christiansburg Papa John's earlier that week.

The fire was started in a stack of pizza boxes along a wall, a fire official said. Firefighters were able to contain it to that wall, but there was smoke damage throughout the store.

The shop, at 7 S. Franklin St., across from the Montgomery County Courthouse, remains closed.

Steele had worked as an area supervisor for the restaurant chain for about 11 months before the incident. It's unclear how much money he is accused of embezzling except that it is more than $200, leading to the felony charge.

Steele was released from jail on bond and appeared for his scheduled preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon in Montgomery County General District Court.

His attorney, Henry Whitehurst, said he would waive the hearing. This means no evidence was presented and the charges against Steele will go before a Montgomery County grand jury, which will determine if he should face a trial in circuit court.

The court allowed Steele to leave the state and he is currently living in Kentucky, his attorney said.