The third of three former inmates in the Texas County Jail to plead guilty to setting a fire at the jail in June 2017 was sentenced to seven years in prison.
On Tuesday, Tearance Connors entered a guilty plea to arson and was sentenced by Texas County Circuit Judge William Hickle, according to court records.
Connors, 32, and Cody J. Stafford, 29, both of Ava; and David L. Cook, 35, of Mountain Grove; were seen on jail security cameras in the vicinity of a toilet area in Wing 4 of the jail where the fire started, according to a report filed in the incident. Two could be seen putting items in the area, including a mat, a blanket and toilet paper.
According to the statements, Connor admitted using a lighter to start the fire, which caused evacuation of the wing.
The three men were part of a group of inmates transferred to the Texas County Jail from Wright County, after a similar fire there the week before.
Stafford and Cook pleaded guilty in December to first-degree arson and each was sentenced to 10 years in prison, court record show.