The third of three former inmates in the Texas County Jail to plead guilty to setting a fire at the facility in June 2017 was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Tearance Connors entered a guilty plea to arson last Tuesday 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.