Arson Plea Nets 10-Year Prison Sentence For Pea Ridge Man

Easter
Easter

BENTONVILLE -- A Pea Ridge man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday for setting fire to a house.

Tyler Lee Easter, 21, pleaded guilty to arson, a Class A felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from six to 30 years. The plea was under an agreement Jay Saxton, Easter's attorney, reached with Bryan Sexton, deputy prosecutor.

Easter was arrested Feb. 27, 2013.

A Benton County Sheriff's Office deputy was dispatched at 2:23 a.m. Feb. 16 to the White Oak Station in Pea Ridge in connection with a suspected arson.

Mason Rounds informed the deputy his friend, Easter, was going to commit an arson at a home on Gary Fletcher Road, according to court documents.

The deputy began to patrol the area and saw smoke coming from near 14985 Gary Fletcher Road. The deputy requested the fire department be sent to the area.

Mike Lira, a detective with the Sheriff's Office, later questioned Easter. Easter admitted he bought gasoline and spread it in the house before he set the fire.

Circuit Judge Robin Green accepted the plea agreement and Easter's guilty plea.

Easter was sentenced to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, but with a boot camp recommendation. Easter must abide by a suspended-sentence agreement for 14 years after his release from prison.

He received 14 days of jail credit for the time he spent in jail awaiting trial. Easter must pay $1,870 in court costs.

NW News on 05/07/2014

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