PLEA ENTERED IN GRANTON ARSON
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010 -- 2:28 PM
A man from Loyal has been convicted of setting fire to his girlfriend?s house, in an attempt to defraud the insurance company.Timothy Olson pleaded ?no contest? to a charge of arson with intent to defraud during a plea hearing this morning in Clark County Circuit Court.
Olson set fire to the home on USH 10, just outside of Granton, in an attempt to get insurance money that would allow the couple to move in together.
Fire officials became suspicious after the blaze broke out last October. They found evidence that accelerants had been used, then surveillance video from a tractor dealership located across the highway showed Olson?s vehicle pull into the driveway. A short time later, there was a flash of light, and the car left.
Olson faces 40 years in prison and $100,000 in fines.
As part of the plea deal, District Attorney Darwin Zwieg agreed not to make a sentencing recommendation. A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing hearing will likely be held in October.
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